Investigation begins into firework factory blast

A joint police and HSE investigation will soon be under way after two firefighters were killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory yesterday (3 December).

The two men died as they fought a blaze at the Festival Fireworks company's storage depot near Lewes in East Sussex.

The fire started shortly before 2pm on Sunday at a remote industrial estate and was discovered by members of the family-run company.

At first, ten fire engines and crews were dispatched, but more officers were called in as the scale of the blaze became apparent.

The storage buildings, which were made of concrete with reinforced steel doors, blew apart as the fire spread. The biggest explosion was at about 3pm, which residents compared to a bomb going off. The explosion was so big it was heard up to 12 miles away.

A "steel fabrication" facility which was based on the same site has also been destroyed by the blast.

The two men who died were a 49-year-old control room staff member, who was also a retained fire officer, and a 63-year-old retired fire officer who had been re-employed and provided support at incidents. 

Nine other fire service staff, two members of the public and a police sergeant were also injured in the blast.

This morning a 200-metre cordon was still in place around the site because of fears that up to 20 gas cylinders on the site could explode without warning. Chief Fire Officer Des Pritchard said it remained a "very difficult and dangerous scene". The fire was left to burn itself out because of fears the gas canisters may explode.

The HSE has said an inspector is ready to start an investigation and it has been speculated that an electrical fault may have been responsible for the fire.

Lewes MP Norman Baker said: "We need to establish whether the licensing conditions were adhered to and, if they were, whether there needs to be some tightening of the way fireworks are held."

John McGhee from the Fire Brigades Union said it would be asking East Sussex Fire Authority whether proper plans were in place to deal with an incident at the factory.