Fire crews battled a blaze at a North Yorkshire chemical plant this afternoon (Thursday).
It was at ICL on Canal View in Selby.
North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service control told YorkMix that they received multiple calls from members of the public at 4.27pm who had seen fire and smoke emerging from one of the windows.
Video
Fire location
A crew from Selby fire station were at the factory within minutes.
They were joined by firefighters from Tadcaster and from Snaith, from the neighbouring Humberside Fire Service.
The building was evacuated and all persons accounted for. The Selby Superbowl and Sleepsafe Selby were also evacuated as a precaution.
The fire was on the third storey of a four storey building. Fire Control told us the fire was away from any potentially dangerous chemicals.
The source of the fire is thought to be a hopper drum.
Several firefighters went inside in breathing apparatus and used hosereel jets to tackle the fire.
Police were on the scene and closed some nearby roads and footpaths while the incident was ongoing. These have been reopened.
Eyewitness Kirsty told us: “I saw lots of smoke from my house. And as I was going to the shops it was just getting bigger.”
She said the smell was “awful”: “There’s been an awful smell all day since this morning. I am now wondering if it’s anything to do with that. Hopefully not.”
ICL, originally Industrial Chemicals Limited, was established in 1976. It’s a national chemical manufacturer and trader of industrial chemicals.
