An electrical fault has been identified as the reason for a massive fire in Ashford, Kent.
The large-scale industrial blaze that burned for multiple days has now been investigated by the fire services, revealing the cause to an unplanned electrical fault within equipment on site.
A spokesperson for Kent Fire and Rescue commented:
“It’s believed the fire started accidentally, due to an electrical fault with the power supply to an industrial machine.”
Owners and operators of industrial equipment using electrical power are obliged to run regular maintenance checks to ensure systems are working properly. Scheduled testing can identify faults in equipment before hazards occur, ensuring the safety of employees on site. Enterprises in Kent or Chester can use an industrial electrician with the correct qualifications to run maintenance tests on their electrical systems.
As the fire burned through LMR Tyre Recycling, situated on the Cobbs Wood Industrial Estate on Hanover Lane, a plume of dark smoke was seen rising into the air, with one Ashford resident commenting to local reporters that the “whole sky was black”. The huge fire required fire services to remain at the incident for over three days until it was fully extinguished.
At its peak, the industrial fire saw 15 fire appliances and over 60 dedicated firefighters tackle the blaze, which destroyed a warehouse and a car situated close by the incident. The local community were advised by the fire services to keep both windows and doors closed against the smoke.