Big Fire on Astonfields

[staffordjas]

Husband just sent email from his office on Drummond Rd, Astonfields ...

"Big Fire , looks like the old Goodwins Place. Police have blocked the road off now''

 

[Glam]

Brilliant! Was just heading up the hospice place.

 

[staffordjas]

Latest email...

'9.11 AM still black smoke coming from the building.

9.12 Firemen on roof.

9.15 more smoke coming from the building and more flames out the roof.'

9.20 a lot more flames, look at least 15 feet high from the roof.




Hope anyone in the building at the time is ok, also the firemen tackling it

 

[shoes]

I saw the smoke this morning from beaconside, looked nasty

 

[staffordjas]

Latest from hubby...

' 9.24 Flames going to about 20 feet now, someone thinks chemicals are stored there.

We can see at least 2 fire hoses spraying water but with no effect.

Looks like something went bang '

Then added...

'9.30 Firemen cannot get a grip with it flames now double the size of the building, another fire engine just arrived.
9. 32 More explosions, someone thinks old drums are stored there.

 

[staffordjas]

Person on 'Current Spotted' saying they can see the black smoke from Highfields

 

[Wormella]

Just went to look at my office windows - can confirm big flames lots of smoke

 

[Gramaisc]

Third appliance just gone past here on the way, I presume.

 

[Ecker]

The wind is taking the smoke south east(ish) from Astonfields
and it's very black and intense, you may want to warn friends.

 

[Gramaisc]

Straight over my house, I would have said it was going northeastish - big flames above the trees now - probably just a case of attempting to contain it from here on.

 

[Wormella]

Just went to look at my office windows - can confirm big flames lots of smoke

Now with added video - https://twitter.com/Wormella/status/704964717580828674

 

[staffordjas]

Latest from hubby...

The whole place is going up, I have taken some pictures, they have no chance of putting it out now.

 

[staffordjas]

The wind is taking the smoke south east(ish) from Astonfields
and it's very black and intense, you may want to warn friends.

Better mention to hubby to keep his works doors and windows shut. He's rather close to it

 

[Gramaisc]

Latest from hubby...

The whole place is going up, I have taken some pictures, they have no chance of putting it out now.

The level of noise would suggest that that is a fair assessment....

The smoke is high enough not to cause much local difficulty, beyond the immediate vicinity.

 

[PeterD]

blimey, wonder if wife is working from home, she is my man on the ground

 

[80's kid]

Looks nasty, can see the flames from Manor Estate!

 

[wildwood]

http://www.expressandstar.com/news/emergency-services/2016/03/02/major-fire-breaks-out-in-stafford/

 

[staffordjas]

Hubby says too much black smoke choking drivers. And 'Sounds like bonfire night, flames out of control.'

'Fire now on road, seems to have got near a van,

Cars are now being moved with the police telling people where to go.

It looks like the van may be on fire now, but can't see because of the smoke.'

Looks like Astonfields Road is being closed off by Stafford Rangers ground.



Bit worried about his place now, he's only about a couple of hundred metres away . Says it's horrible to watch . They have been advised by police to stay inside and keep all doors and windows shut. Evacuating buildings nearby , but they can stay put at the moment. All smoke coming over their building and ash coming down on the carpark.

 

[Ecker]

Photos taken from Peter James Court:

 

[Ecker]

And another: