Lithium-ion batteries fire in Cannock

Firefighters investigating the cause of Cannock fire

by with No Comment News

Locals are given a reminder of the dangers when disposing of household waste, after a significant fire at the recycling centre in Cannock.

An investigation was launched into the cause of the fire, at the premises in Leacroft Lane was launched last Friday. Six crews attended the fire, which started just before 2pm on the day prior. Locals were advised to close all windows and doors for a significant amount of time through the afternoon.

The crews from, Cannock, Rugeley, Stafford, Lichfield and Penkridge were on site until 6:15pm when damping down began.

Cannock station manager Russ Brown, the incident commander at the scene, said: “I would like to thank the centre staff for their assistance in helping us to tackle the fire and establish some successful tactics to extinguish the blaze.”

“Without their swift actions, we could have seen the incident escalate.”

He said he would like to remind residents and businesses to ensure that they are safely disposing of their waste, particularly any Lithium-ion batteries which are often used in electronic devices. They should ensure they are stored in cool areas. As well as making sure nothing is covering them or blocking their extractors from working.

When disposing of Lithium-ion batteries, the correct action must be taken to minimise risks. To find out the practice to follow, find out in our blog post on Lithium-ion batteries HERE.

Derbion Car Fire

Derbion evacuated after a car fire in the underground car park

by with No Comment News

The Derbion shopping centre was evacuated this morning after a suspected car fire in the underground car park. Derbyshire Police and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service were on site and the entrance was taped off.

Two fire engines and three police cars were parked at the entrance to the car park, in an attempt to keep the public away from the blaze. Eyewitnesses reported that smoke was drawn through the shopping centre at around 11 am Saturday morning.

Footage seen by Derbyshire Live showed hundreds of shoppers making their way to the exits after fire alarms went off inside Derbion.

Someone who was there at the time said: “It was just crazy, people running out of the car park screaming ‘a car is on fire’. I was about to park my car and heard a massive bang! So I got out as fast as I could.”

“Big flames” were seen in the underground car park. Someone who saw the fire said they couldn’t tell what car was on fire, they just saw flames and smoke.

Most people own cars in the UK. They are usually very safe, but things like this can occur. People underestimate the danger of such events. What would you do if your car set on fire?

A small fire extinguisher is the perfect solution for your car. These extinguishers are smaller models, specifically designed for locations such as cars. These can be used in the event of a fire to stop a small flame from turning into a massive blaze. Firexo’s small fire extinguishers can be used to tackle a small flame before it escalates into something massive.

Fire-Warden-Training-Courses-scaled

CheckFire’s foam products update

by with One Comment NewsRules and Regulations

Checkfire has released an update on the possible implications with foam fire extinguishers that contain PFOA and PFOS.

Their statement stated that the foam used in the extinguishers from Commander, CommanderEDGE and Contempo does not contain PFOS or PFOA. They also stated that although these extinguishers do not contain these substances but like all foam extinguishers in the UK, they contain PFHxA.

The European Chemicals Agency has said they are currently considering restrictions to the use of PFHxA. The recommendations to the Agency are likely to be submitted during 2022 and following that there will be a possible transition period in 2024. The timetable for this has not yet been agreed.

6 litre foam fire extinguisher

There are not any restrictions currently in place, and it is unlikely the law will be applied retrospectively. However, with the situation growing we advise the use of Water, Water Additive and Water Mist extinguishers where there is no class B fire risk.

Companies and brands are currently working on trying to develop a fluorine-free alternative (CheckFire included).

student block blaze

Firefighters rush to student block blaze in Coventry

by with No Comment News

Firefighters were called to a reports of a blaze at a student accommodation block in Coventry. The fire crews were dispatched to Hillman House around 1.45pm on Sunday (20th November).

The fire crews who were dispatched from Coventry and Foleshill Fire Stations were called to the flats on Corporation Street. The crews managed to get the fire under control within an hour and left the scene shortly after.

West Midlands Fire Service confirmed that the cause of the fire was a pan being left on the stove. Thankfully, the residents are said to have not been harmed in the incident.

Stories like this is why we stress prioritising fire safety in all homes and accommodations. Students are likely not educated on fire safety and different types fire extinguishers.

So for in those situations we recommend fire blankets and all firexo fire extinguishers as they do not require as much training.

Fire blankets are an excellent choice for any domestic properties as they can be used without formal training. A Firexo fire extinguisher can be used on any class of fire, so cannot be mixed up in a panic and used incorrectly.