fire & history firegeezer on 09 Sep 2007 12:11 pm
Fire At Explosives Plant In Scotland
THE STRATHCLYDE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE IN SCOTLAND was called out last night to the former Nobel Industries plant in Ayrshire. Around 8:00 pm, nearby residents heard several large explosions and then witnessed a massive flame display as several chemical containers burned and exploded.
The drums involved were stored outdoors in an isolated area, so there was no property damage. However the blaze put on a display that could be seen 5 miles away. During the height of the fire there were 20 engines and 75 firefighters involved.
Initial reports say that the chemical involved was nitro-cellulose - which is used in inks and coatings. It can also be used as a low-level explosive, known as guncotton. Strathclyde Police said around 1,500 to 1,700 tons of the nitro-cellulose had been involved in the incident. An investigation is now under way into the cause of the incident at the plant.
Paul Connelly, from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue, was in charge of the firefighting operation and said: “We still have a cordon in place and what we’re doing is surveying the site and inspecting the drums that are still there and extinguishing any small pockets of fire that are still remaining in some of the debris. This substance was in an open bunded (sic) area so there has been very little property damage and anything that we have had we’ve been able to deal with very early on in the evening.”
Originally part of the Nobel explosives conglomerate, this plant has gone through several ownership changes in the last 20 years. In the 1930’s it was the largest explosives factory in Europe, employing more than 13,000 people. During WW II it was camoflaged and the government built a replica of the plant several miles north to confuse German bombers sent to destroy it. (unsuccessfully, as it turned out. See below….ed.)
Police say that three boys, two aged 14 and one age 10, have been taken into custody and remanded to their equivalent of the child welfare agency.
Taken from reports by the BBC and Trinity Mirror Southern Ltd. All images courtesy BBC.
For a first-hand account of a woman who worked in the factory during the bombing, click HERE.
For a detailed history of the Ardeer explosives factory click HERE.
