Homes are being evacuated around an industrial estate in Stafford while more than 60 firefighters battle a massive blaze at a chemical company that is in danger of spreading to a store of 40,000 litres of oil.

Witnesses reported hearing explosions and pictures circulated on Wednesday of thick black smoke rising from the inferno at the premises of Global Hygiene, a supplier of cleaning, industrial and janitorial products, on the Astonfields industrial estate.

One person has been treated by paramedics after suffering minor burns, according to a Staffordshire fire and rescue service spokeswoman. Police are working to evacuate nearby homes, while those outside the evacuation zone have been warned to keep windows and doors shut.

Local people posted pictures on Twitter showing balls of flame erupting from the site and a thick plume of smoke rising into the sky above it. One witness, Siân Williams, said a chunk of charcoal had landed in her back garden and that ash was falling from the sky like snow.

Nice a big hunk of charcoal has landed in my back garden!! #localfire #stafford and ash falling from the sky like snow — Siân E Williams (@Bluedaffodil) March 2, 2016

The fire service spokeswoman said there was a risk that the blaze could spread to a store of heat transfer oil. Workers from the site had already been evacuated to the nearby Stafford Rangers football ground, she said. The spokeswoman was unable to comment on the number of people evacuated.



Firefighters first responded to calls of a fire at the site at 8.43am. “We have 12 appliances on the scene from Staffordshire and four from the West Midlands. I would say that’s roughly more than 60 firefighters. Basically, we’ve got a large fire,” the spokeswoman said.

“We have had one person who has suffered minor injuries – minor burns – and been attended to by the fire service.

“The incident involves a container of heat-transfer oil. The container has approximately 40,000 litres of oil. The affected unit and connecting units have been evacuated and all persons accounted for. The emergency services and the police are using Stafford Rangers football club as a rendezvous point.

“The fire is now involving 50% of the unit and police are working to evacuate nearby homes. Residents were informed to keep doors and windows closed because of large plumes of smoke.”

Staffordshire police said officers were assisting firefighters around what the force described as a major incident. “Premises and houses within a 50-metre radius of the blaze have been evacuated as a safety precaution,” it said.

“Please assist the emergency services by avoiding the area and residents and businesses are asked to keep doors and windows closed.”