Fire hits dry cleaning factory in Basingstoke
A dry cleaning factory in Basingstoke has been damaged after a fire broke out on the premises yesterday (25thJanuary).
Fire crews were called to Johnsons Apparelmaster on the West Ham Industrial Estate at 10.30am to tackle a blaze which began in one of the industrial cleaning machines, reports the Basingstoke Gazette.
Sixteen firefighters attended the incident and had to wear special gas pipe suits to enter the building due to the presence of the potentially harmful perchloroethylene chemical.
Watch manager John Amos told The Gazette: "The fire itself was not particularly serious, but the problem is that the chemicals that they use in dry cleaning, when combined with fire, produce phosgene gas.
"That was used as a poison gas in the First World War."
Around 150kg of clothes are believed to have been destroyed by the fire, which was eventually put out at around 1.30pm.
A fire risk assessment - which aims to identify and negate any fire hazards - must be conducted on all commercial properties in England and Wales, in accordance with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
If a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment is not carried out, the Responsible Person faces up to two years in prison or an unlimited fine.
Posted by Ryan Stevens
