Sprinklers avert major blaze

Sprinklers have brought a potentially major blaze under control in a factory fire in the early hours of this morning.

The fire took place in the rural village of Mayfield, near Uttoxeter at approximately 1am this morning. The factory, called Mayfield Yarns, located on Conygree Lane, produces materials for airbag systems.

When crews arrived they were met with two fires, one in an outbuilding storing pallets and corrugated cardboard and the second in a large production and storage building. At the height of the incident there were a total of ten pumps and two aerial ladder platforms, however because of the effective use of the sprinkler systems the incident was soon scaled down to five pumps by 2.30am.

Station Manager, Steve Norris said, “Initially four pumps attended, however a further six pumps were requested as a precautionary measure – this was due to the fact there were two separate fires and because of the size of the larger building. However sprinkler heads operated in both buildings and did an excellent job in containing both fires to a small area. Had sprinklers systems not been fitted we could have been dealing with two much larger fires, which could potentially have destroyed the main historic mill building.

“We’d urge all businesses to fit sprinkler systems because as this incident has highlighted they do prevent the spread of fires, minimising the economic cost of a fire.”

At 5.30am this morning the incident was scaled down to just one pump which remains there this morning. A Fire Investigation Officer will be meeting Scenes of Crime Officers this morning to investigate the cause of the fire.

To book a free Home Fire Risk Check contact: 0800 0241 999. For all other non emergency enquiries contact: 08451 22 11 55 or log onto: www.staffordshirefire.gov.uk or www.direct.gov.uk/firekills. In an emergency dial 999.

added - 04:08:09 | news_aug_001.htm