ELECTRICAL FAULT COULD BE TO BLAME

An electrical fault may have caused the blaze which led to the fatal explosion at a fireworks depot.

This article is based on reports published yesterday on this site

The Health and Safety Executive said: 'An inspector is ready to start an investigation. There are many reasons why this fire could have started and early speculation has pointed towards an electrical fault that may have been responsible for the fire.'

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A member of the family that owns Festival Fireworks said he was not sure of the cause of the fire

'All I know was that work was going on ready for a display," Jason Winter told Sky News.

He is a nephew of the family that owns the business.

He said family members were OK.

'They are fine. They are OK. There were no injuries or incidents regarding families.

'No-one has gone anywhere near it. That is why it is burning,' he said last night (Sunday).

'My family have lost everything.

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'They have lost the house, they have lost garages, offices, all the buildings, their vehicles, their lorries even down to their guinea pig.

'It is just like a bomb site.

'They are leaving it to burn. That is what they have told us. They are not prepared to risk anyone going in.

'No emergency services are going anywhere near the blaze.'

'It is so sad to see my family's business go up in smoke.'

He said the business had been operating legally and without problems for 20 years.

He pointed out it was in a rural area.

' A few cottages have had minor damage to them; windows blown out, Mr Winter said.

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*Two loud explosions were heard across a wide area of East Sussex on Sunday afternoon.

The first was heard as far east as Uckfield '“ one motorist heard it while driving his car on the A22 East Hoathly by-pass and throught it was thunder.

The first explosion came at 1.50pm from the warehouse at The Broyle, between Ringmer and Halland. The second explosion was heard over a wide area '“ as far as Heathfield '“ and it is this which is thought to have caused the deaths and injuries.

Houses and windows shook in properties in Ridgewood.

Staff were working at the warehouse when the fire began. They all escaped uninjured.

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After the blasts, a mushroom cloud of smoke was seen over a wide area.

Police declared a major incident and kept people a considerable distance away from the factory.

After the second explosion, emergency services withdrew from the scene. The warehouse and surrounding buildings have been devastated.

Fireworks continued to go off into the night sky as the blaze was allowed to burn itself out.

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Festival Fireworks is believed to have been established for around 20 years and has won awards for its displays.

Some people were moved from their homes. The local authorities have helped to find those affected alternative accommodation.

*Jeremy Paine, assistant chief constable of Sussex Police, said at a press conference on Sunday evening:

'Shortly before two o clock this afternoon (Sunday) emergency services were called to the Marlie farm.

'Just under an hour later there was a large explosion.

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'Tragically two members of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were killed in that explosion.

'Another 12 people were injured - nine members of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue, two members of the public and a police sergeant.

'They all went to hospital.

'Some have been released and some are still at hospital.

'There is a 200m cordon around the factory and the advice from the fire and rescue service is that the fire is going to be allowed to burn for a while because there is some concern around some acetylene tanks that may be present.

'We are conducting a full investigation as to the background and circumstances of this event. That's the police, health and safety and the fire and rescue service.'