Smoke coming through the roof of the factory is pictured above. Click here for a picture of part of the roof taken from the turntable ladder.

3 September 2009

About 40 firefighters and officers have been at the scene of a fire in a two-storey industrial unit in Winslow tonight.

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service was called to the 30 metre by 20 metre Mondo Foods factory in Station Road at 6.13pm.

Crews from Winslow, Buckingham, Aylesbury, Bletchley and High Wycombe are attending, along with the hose-laying vehicle from Stokenchurch and the Incident Command Unit, Operational Support Unit and canteen van based at Aylesbury Fire Station.

Area Manager Denis O'Driscoll, who is also at the scene, said: "The availability of the local crew from Winslow and considerable back-up from the surrounding area have enabled us to bring the fire under control and prevent it from destroying a local business.

"The fire was already threatening to take hold when they arrived, but firefighters were able to get water inside the building in the very early stages while also tackling the fire from the outside."

There are a number of cylinders containing refrigerant gases in the unit, and firefighters are having to monitor them carefully.

They have used seven sets of breathing apparatus, five jets, a turntable ladder and ventilation fans to put out the fire.

Relief crews were due to arrive at about 10.30pm, and firefighters are likely to be at the scene throughout the night. A reinspection on Friday morning is planned.