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Firework sparks scrapyard inferno

James Ducker and Paul Britton
4/11/2004

ONE firework is believed to have started a massive blaze which tore through a car scrapyard.

Youths were seen playing with fireworks near the scene just before the inferno.

More than 30 firefighters worked through the night as 100ft flames engulfed European Metal Recycling, on Oldham Road, Miles Platting, Manchester, last night. Around 150 scrap cars and hundreds of tonnes of waste were burned in the blaze.

Witnesses said they spotted the youths playing with fireworks shortly before the fire.

The Manchester Evening News has long campaigned for a complete ban on the over-the-counter sale of fireworks to the public. Last night police were forced to cordon off nearby roads and reroute rush hour traffic as toxic fumes poured into the sky.

Fire crews had to boost water supplies by pumping from a canal and spent more than six hours tackling the blaze, which was brought under control around 4am.

Metal

Mechanical diggers created a firewall to prevent the flames spreading through the entire site and were today helping to clear the wreckage.

Tony Walters, depot manager at European Metal Recycling, said: "I got a phone call from my foreman around 7pm telling me what had happened. There are probably a couple of hundred tonnes of metal that have been burned.

"The fire chief says they have had an eye witness who saw some kids playing with fireworks nearby and that a firework could be to blame. This is not what we want to have to deal with for the sake of a firework."

European Metal Recycling distribute most of their waste to Liverpool Docks for further processing. Mr Walters could not say how much damage had been caused by the blaze.

The incident comes as the government, councils and fire brigades watch to see how stricter laws on firework misuse work this Bonfire Night.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has pledged he will re-think the Fireworks Act if it proves insufficiently tough. But he is hoping the new rules - including a curfew on firework use and making possession of fireworks by under-18s an offence - will be enough.

Should over-the counter sales of fireworks be banned? Have your say.


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(5)


Most recent 2 of 5 user comments

   no you are not being a killjoy gary. I feel the same way perhaps we could have legislation that deems it illegal for any child to possess fireworks and penalty notices could then be issued which their parents could pay. My children are mature enough to not throw fireworks sadly idiots like these are not. Dont their parents smell their clothes when they get home or perhaps they just dont care hit them where it hurts in their pockets. The revenue could be used for sensible families to enjoy the pleasure fireworks bring.
bernie, manchester
4/11/2004 at 16:48

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   Councillor John Taylor of Tameside MBC has long been campaigning as he wishes the outcome to be a total ban on the sale of over-the-counter fireworks. If anyone in the Tameside area has any evidence of fireworks misuse, please do not hesitate to send to us. We will continue to forward information to the Government to assist this campaign.
Lesley Larkin, Tameside MBC
4/11/2004 at 14:32

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