Two dead in firework factory fire

12 April 2012

Two firefighters have been killed and several other people injured after a major blaze at a fireworks factory.

Dozens of firefighters tackled the fire which created a plume of smoke visible up to six miles away. The deaths have been confirmed by local MP Norman Baker.

Eyewitnesses reported several explosions that shook homes around the factory on an industrial estate near Lewes, East Sussex.

Emergency services declared a major incident and casualties were taken to hospitals in Brighton and Eastbourne.

Janine Bell, of South East Coast Ambulance Service, said there were "a number" of casualties, some seriously injured.

She refused to confirm if some of those hurt were firefighters. Mrs Bell said she did not have details of how many casualties there were. "We have declared this as a major incident due to the seriousness of it," she said. "But at the moment I am not able to confirm any precise numbers."

Mrs Bell said the situation "worsened" during the afternoon.

Firefighters went to The Broyle industrial estate at Ringmer, between Lewes and Hailsham, East Sussex. Eyewitnesses said the biggest explosions took place up to an hour after the blaze first started.

John Davies, of The Black Lion pub, in nearby Halland, said customers felt the building shake when the fireworks started exploding. He told BBC News 24: "The noise just kept getting louder and louder. About three o'clock was the loudest bang. It actually shook the pub and probably shook most of the houses in the village."

A spokeswoman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that people were injured.

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