Latest!!! Lorries destroyed in fierce blaze at Northowram farm Industrial Site

Just before 11:45 hrs this morning fire crews attended the Industrial site on Bowl Shaw Lane, Northowram. This was just off the main A644 Brighouse Road, towards Queensbury. Initial crews from Odsal and Raistrick were met with a developing fire in an industrial unit containing a large number of heavy goods vehicles. 

  

The smoke could be seen for miles due to it's hilltop location. The strong winds in the area were also an issue. As the incident developed roads became gridlocked as people stopped to watch the smoke rising from the fire. Eventually road closures were set in place by the Police, resulting in the A644 being closed along with surrounding routes.

Lorries and tankers ablaze

The fire also set alight to vehicle outside the building which contained LPG gas cylinders, Acetylene and a diesel fuel tank. As the fire raged at Thorn Tree Farm constant explosions could be heard from the site. Water was a main issue and this incident was a MP x 12 for water relay. Some of the water was brought in from over 2 Kilometers away.

Dramatic scene as Fuel and other flammable liquids explode in the fire

There was one large explosion on the site sending a ball of flame 200 feet into the sky. In total between 40 and 50 vehicles had been involved. The Environment Agency was on site looking at the potential effects it could have on the surrounding countryside, as a lot of diesel, petrol and some solvents could be running off the site into the surrounding area and water supplies.

Once a good water supply was established the fire was surrounded with firefighters using 9 Large jets, 2 Ground monitors with Breathing apparatus for crews working in smoke areas. 

Fire crews are barely visible due to the smoke. Smoke which could be seen from miles away.

Appliances from Odsal, Rastrick,Shipley, Rawdon, Bingley, Illingworth, Bradford, Halifax, Cleckheaton, Huddersfield, Fairweather Green, Dewsbury, Stanningley + Hose layer, Pontefract + CU and Killingbeck attended along with other support crews and officers. 

Damping down will be going on all night to make sure that the site is safe and no fires flare up. Investigation work will be carried out to establish the cause of the fire.


Update 12:00 on July 4, 2016 from WYFRS
Fire crews remain at Bowl Shaw Lane, Northowram, this morning after a huge blaze broke out yesterday morning (Sunday, July 3).
Fire Control received a call at 11.41 am yesterday to the industrial site, where a farm house is also located.
At its height 12 fire engines attended to tackle the blaze which involved a workshop, measuring around 50m by 25m , and a large number of wagons, both inside the building and outside in the yard.
The fire also involved tyres, LPG cylinders, Acetylene and Diesel.
The blaze was under control by 6 pm and Fire Service attendance was scaled back to three engines at 7 pm and further to two at around midnight.
This morning one engine from Cleckheaton Fire Station remains to extinguish hotspots and assess the damage.
A Fire Service spokesperson said: “One man was treated for smoke inhalation but fortunately there were no serious injuries as a result of the fire.
“The fire has not affected the farm house, but sadly the majority of the workshop area has been severely damaged and we estimate that around 40 wagons have been destroyed by fire.”
Partners from across the blue light services, along with other agencies and volunteer organisations, aided in dealing with the incident and its aftermath.
A Fire Investigator has also attended and their investigations into the cause are ongoing today.

We expect that firefighters will leave the site at some point today.