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Four people feared trapped in burning Cheshire wood mill Four people feared trapped in burning Cheshire wood mill
(about 1 hour later)
Emergency services were attempting to find four people believed to have been trapped inside a wood treatment works in Cheshire following a series of explosions at the site. Emergency services are attempting to find four people believed to have been trapped inside a wood treatment works in Cheshire following a fire and two subsequent explosions at the site.
Police declared a major incident at Wood Flour Mills, in the village of Bosley, where a four-storey building collapsed in flames. Emergency services arrived just after 9am on Friday and firefighters continued to tackle the blaze in the afternoon. Police declared a major incident at Wood Flour Mills, in the village of Bosley, where a four-storey building collapsed in flames on Friday morning. Emergency services arrived just after 9am and firefighters continued to tackle the blaze in the evening.
Police said there had been three explosions at the site and three men and one woman remained unaccounted for. Ch Insp Paul Carroll said: “We continue to work with all our emergency service partners and the local authority to deal with this incident. At this time we believe four people are trapped and we’re dealing with multiple explosions.” An initial report of a fire at the premises was followed by two loud explosions, which some witnesses likened to “an earthquake”. Massive plumes of flames were then seen up to 70 metres high. It is understood that 20 people were working at the factory at the time of the explosion and there were “quite a few walking wounded”.
It is understood that 20 people were working at the factory at the time of the explosion and there were “quite a few walking wounded”. Police said 35 people were assessed at the scene by medical staff, with four people treated for breathing difficulties. Another four people were taken to hospital, one in a serious condition. Cheshire police said three men and one woman remained unaccounted for. “We continue to work with all our emergency service partners and the local authority to deal with this incident. At this time we believe four people are trapped and we’re dealing with multiple explosions,” Ch Insp Paul Carroll said.
Paul Hancock, chief fire officer for Cheshire fire and rescue service, added: “We have some urban search and rescue teams doing an assessment of the scene to determine whether it is safe or not to go into the property and carry out the search, and locate these four unaccounted people.”
Police were working closely with the families of the four missing but are yet to release their names. They said 35 people were assessed at the scene by medical staff, with four people treated for breathing difficulties. Another four people were taken to hospital, one in a serious condition.
A West Midlands ambulance spokeswoman explained that they had airlifted a 29-year-old woman to hospital with serious burns and blast injuries to her head, face, arms and chest. “She was given pain relief, her burns carefully dressed and she was immobilised before being airlifted to Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham for further specialist treatment. The trauma doctor continued treatment en route,” the representative said.A West Midlands ambulance spokeswoman explained that they had airlifted a 29-year-old woman to hospital with serious burns and blast injuries to her head, face, arms and chest. “She was given pain relief, her burns carefully dressed and she was immobilised before being airlifted to Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham for further specialist treatment. The trauma doctor continued treatment en route,” the representative said.
North-west ambulance service said they had taken one person to Royal Stoke University hospital by ambulance and another – also with burns – was airlifted to Wythenshawe hospital in Manchester.North-west ambulance service said they had taken one person to Royal Stoke University hospital by ambulance and another – also with burns – was airlifted to Wythenshawe hospital in Manchester.
According to Cheshire fire and rescue service, 15 fire engines were at the scene, along with three urban search and rescue teams. “There is a fully developed fire in several areas. Firefighters are facing a dangerous situation as they cannot rule out further explosions,” the service said.According to Cheshire fire and rescue service, 15 fire engines were at the scene, along with three urban search and rescue teams. “There is a fully developed fire in several areas. Firefighters are facing a dangerous situation as they cannot rule out further explosions,” the service said.
At least six ambulances, two rapid response vehicles, two doctors, four managers and the air ambulance were also dispatched. A lead doctor from the medical emergency response team was also present at the scene. “We are currently assessing the scene and working closely with other members of the emergency services, with our priority being to ensure people receive the medical treatment they need as quickly as possible,” a statement from the ambulance service said. Hancock said fire crews were still dealing with fires within the building. He added: “The circumstances down at the scene is one of devastation. When you have two explosions in a building, the building splits open from the inside and as a result of our firefighting tactics over a course of two or three hours it has then collapsed on itself. So it is extremely difficult and challenging for those fire crews and those specialist teams to go in to try and locate these potentially missing four people.
“These urban search and rescue teams are teams that went out to Nepal and Japan recently . They have got a big task in front of them. But before we commit these crews we must ensure that they are safe to go in that environment.”
The explosion, he added, combined with a number of risks, including running fuel fires, LPG cylinders, and asbestos. Assistant Chief Constable of Cheshire police, Guy Hindle, said emergency services would not give up, “irrespective of the hazards and the danger”.
At least six ambulances, two rapid response vehicles, two doctors, four managers and the air ambulance were also dispatched to the factory. A lead doctor from the medical emergency response team was also present at the scene. “We are currently assessing the scene and working closely with other members of the emergency services, with our priority being to ensure people receive the medical treatment they need as quickly as possible,” a statement from the ambulance service said.
Speaking in Bosley on Friday afternoon, Michael Jones, the leader of Cheshire East council, said that his hopes were that the missing people would be found alive and well. He said: “But with the building collapsed we are obviously concerned. This has had a major impact on such a very special village. It’s a small community and there were 50 jobs there.”Speaking in Bosley on Friday afternoon, Michael Jones, the leader of Cheshire East council, said that his hopes were that the missing people would be found alive and well. He said: “But with the building collapsed we are obviously concerned. This has had a major impact on such a very special village. It’s a small community and there were 50 jobs there.”
David Rutley, the Conservative MP for Macclesfield, said: “I have met some of the people who were then when the blast took place. They are clearly in a state of shock.David Rutley, the Conservative MP for Macclesfield, said: “I have met some of the people who were then when the blast took place. They are clearly in a state of shock.
“It is a huge shock to the community, it’s a close-knit community. It’s absolutely vital they get all the support they need. It is entirely appropriate we have seen a fantastic response from the emergency services and the council.”“It is a huge shock to the community, it’s a close-knit community. It’s absolutely vital they get all the support they need. It is entirely appropriate we have seen a fantastic response from the emergency services and the council.”
A safety cordon was set up around the scene and nearby Bollin Mill Road and Tunstall Road in Bosley were shut. Police warned residents to keep doors and windows closed because of the large amount of smoke.A safety cordon was set up around the scene and nearby Bollin Mill Road and Tunstall Road in Bosley were shut. Police warned residents to keep doors and windows closed because of the large amount of smoke.
One of the employees who had recently clocked off from the mills, Patrick Jones, said he was “absolutely gutted” to hear about the explosion. “I am still worried about my mates. There are four of them that are still missing. I was on shift until six o’clock and the changeover for people coming on is at eight o’clock. I have tried to get down there to see if I can help but they won’t let anybody through.”One of the employees who had recently clocked off from the mills, Patrick Jones, said he was “absolutely gutted” to hear about the explosion. “I am still worried about my mates. There are four of them that are still missing. I was on shift until six o’clock and the changeover for people coming on is at eight o’clock. I have tried to get down there to see if I can help but they won’t let anybody through.”
He said his employers were brilliant. “You couldn’t ask for a better place to work. As long as my mates get out, that is all I am bothered about,” he said.He said his employers were brilliant. “You couldn’t ask for a better place to work. As long as my mates get out, that is all I am bothered about,” he said.
Charlotte Maher, who lives nearby, told Sky News she felt the shake from the explosion. “Black smoke started coming out and we heard the sirens. We felt two vibrations here five minutes down the road. I can’t imagine how the houses down there took it.Charlotte Maher, who lives nearby, told Sky News she felt the shake from the explosion. “Black smoke started coming out and we heard the sirens. We felt two vibrations here five minutes down the road. I can’t imagine how the houses down there took it.
“Because Bosley is such a small village, a lot of people we know work there. It’s a major devastation for the village.”“Because Bosley is such a small village, a lot of people we know work there. It’s a major devastation for the village.”
Student Charli Alston, 18, was walking her dog with a friend when she witnessed the explosion. “I was walking down my drive and there was just a huge bang,” she said. “It sounded like thunder – we didn’t know what it was because it was sunny then. We looked over and there were massive plumes of flames. Almost as high as the hill next to it.Student Charli Alston, 18, was walking her dog with a friend when she witnessed the explosion. “I was walking down my drive and there was just a huge bang,” she said. “It sounded like thunder – we didn’t know what it was because it was sunny then. We looked over and there were massive plumes of flames. Almost as high as the hill next to it.
“I couldn’t tell you how high the flames were, but I’d say a good 70 metres into the air. Huge. The sound was really, really loud and there was loads of billowing black smoke. We phoned 999 straight away, because it was pretty terrifying watching it.”“I couldn’t tell you how high the flames were, but I’d say a good 70 metres into the air. Huge. The sound was really, really loud and there was loads of billowing black smoke. We phoned 999 straight away, because it was pretty terrifying watching it.”
Alston said the air around the area was still filled with smoke. “We’ve shut all the doors and there’s still a lot of smoke coming from the actual factory covering the surrounding areas. You can’t really see very well.”Alston said the air around the area was still filled with smoke. “We’ve shut all the doors and there’s still a lot of smoke coming from the actual factory covering the surrounding areas. You can’t really see very well.”
Electricity North West said on Friday it had cut power to local homes and businesses to help firefighters carry out their work safely.Electricity North West said on Friday it had cut power to local homes and businesses to help firefighters carry out their work safely.
Bosley St Mary’s primary school, about a mile from the fire, was one of the buildings without electricity. A spokesman for Cheshire East council said all 44 schoolchildren were safe and were being kept inside. “Some smoke came over the building following the explosion,” he said. “[The children] are being kept inside the school building with doors and windows closed. The school is due to close for summer holidays today.”Bosley St Mary’s primary school, about a mile from the fire, was one of the buildings without electricity. A spokesman for Cheshire East council said all 44 schoolchildren were safe and were being kept inside. “Some smoke came over the building following the explosion,” he said. “[The children] are being kept inside the school building with doors and windows closed. The school is due to close for summer holidays today.”
On its website, Wood Treatment Ltd says it is the “UK’s primary specialist in the reprocessing of quality organics, sourcing and recycling natural residues and byproducts from around the world to produce essential, cost-effective raw materials for industry”. The company has been producing wood flour since 1930 and is the sole manufacturer in the UK, according to the Boden Group of Companies website.On its website, Wood Treatment Ltd says it is the “UK’s primary specialist in the reprocessing of quality organics, sourcing and recycling natural residues and byproducts from around the world to produce essential, cost-effective raw materials for industry”. The company has been producing wood flour since 1930 and is the sole manufacturer in the UK, according to the Boden Group of Companies website.