News

Firefighters are spending a second day tackling a major fire at the warehouse of B Smith Packaging (BSP) in Worcester.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze started yesterday morning at the warehouse on Stanier Road, Warndon.

Around 100 firefighters from Worcester, Droitwich, Malvern, Evesham and Pershore were on the scene during the course of the day.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service spokesman Alec Mackie said this morning (3 April): "All the walls have collapsed. The fire continues to burn and the building is not safe to enter. We will not be able to determine the cause until we are able to get inside."

Mackie said the warehouse contained packaging materials, including plastics and cardboard, pallets and forklift trucks.

"The fire started rapidly and my understanding is that the 12 staff on site were also rapidly evacuated. Nobody was injured," he added.

BSP was established in the 1960s and produces high-quality carrier bags made from plastic, paper and material.

The firm said on its website that its manufacturing base had not been affected by the fire and replacement stock would be arriving "soon" from its suppliers around the world.

An action plan had been put in place and "everything possible" was being done to minimise any disruption, the firm added.

Managing director Andrew Smith was unavailable for comment.

Picture credit: Worcester News