Warehouse is destroyed as huge blaze takes hold

A fierce blaze ripped through a warehouse in Staffordshire gutting the building as dozens of firefighters battled to bring flames under control.

Around 40 firefighters were called to Farm Services in Fradley, Lichfield, after the fire broke out. It sparked fears of a chemical alert due to the storage of some agricultural products at the site.

Click on the image on the right to see more pictures from the scene.

The blaze came just hours after crews fought another severe blaze, at the city's Cathedral School. Seven engines were sent to Common Lane at Fradley Park at 5.30pm yesterday.

They found flames engulfing the one-storey warehouse. Early checks confirmed no-one was in the building, with staff having left for the day around half- an-hour earlier.

Nearby residents were asked to shut doors and windows as a precaution.

Crews from Cannock, Rugeley, Burton, Tamworth, Lichfield and Barton-under-Needwood along with an aerial ladder platform from Burton were dispatched.

They managed to bring the fire under control but were still dousing the building more than four hours later. Some firefighters remained at the scene overnight.

Del Roberts, head of response for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue, said: "We had a call at about 5.30pm to Farm Services and sent six appliances as well as an aerial ladder platform.

"The company has crop spray and holds a small quantity of agri-chemical products.

"The cause of what started the fire is unknown but started towards the side of the building on the Common Lane side.

"We believe Farm Services closed at about 5pm and later obviously some flames spread and we were called. The one-floor building is severely damaged."

Police closed a section of road between the junction for the A38 and Dove Close off Common Lane. By 8.45pm there were four crews left on site.