Businesses evacuated after sub-station fire

Firefighters were called to a fire in Scunthorpe after a fire broke out in an electric sub-station.

The sub-station was damaged by the fire which led to businesses including the Blue Bell Inn, Industry and Matrix Club being without electricity.

The pub and club had to be evacuated just before midnight on Friday and the area was cordoned off by police.

Pete Baron, Spokesman for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said: “Two crews were sent, but because it was a sub-station, we couldn’t tackle the blaze until Yorkshire Electric isolated the power. The first thing was boundary cooling and keeping everything in the surrounding area was protected. The nature of the fuel involved will have caused the fire to be quite big, It burns quite ferociously.”

Unmanned water jets set at a very high volume were used and the fire was eventually extinguished using three hose reel jets.

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “The public order officers were already at the scene and there was minimal risk to the public. Officers ensured no one was injured or at risk.”

Nicky Pound who witnessed the incident said: “We walked into the Blue Bell Inn just before midnight and a fire engine went past. Then at about 12.05am, everything in Frodingham Road just went black. The bouncers were saying ‘everybody out, as quickly as you can’. It was all cordoned off and there were plumes of black smoke. It was a bit scary as nobody knew what was going on, but the town centre emptied quite quietly.”

Many businesses and more than 300 homes were without power after the blaze but Yorkshire Electric Distribution Limited managed to restore power by late Saturday afternoon.

The cause of the fire is not known but foul play is not suspected.