Firefighters were called out to tackle a dangerous fire in windy conditions on an industrial site in the village of Pymoor near Ely in Cambridgeshire.
The blaze that broke out at the Corker’s Crisps factory involved highly combustible materials, including packaging and oil, stored beneath the section of roof that collapsed.
The family-run firm that employs a staff of 100 was heavily hit by the incident. Ross Taylor established the business in 2010 and was reportedly “devastated” and “shellshocked” at the extent of the damage. The Taylor family have won multiple awards for their product, which is hand-cooked to a traditional recipe, and the business has an annual turnover of £10m.
A spokesperson for Corker’s Crisps commented:
“Once the alarm was raised all colleagues were promptly evacuated and we are pleased to confirm that no one was hurt. We would like to thank the emergency services who were quickly on site and tackled the blaze throughout the day.”
Owners of industrial properties like factories and warehouses are obligated by UK law to conduct a fire safety risk assessment, involving the fitting of preventative equipment like alarms and detectors. Businesses booking a fire alarm installation in Chester, Ely and other UK cities should only use qualified electrical contractors to fit equipment.
The cause of the fire has not yet been identified but is now being investigated by the Cambridge Fire and Rescue Service and a full assessment of the damage and costs incurred is also underway.
