Sprinkler System in St Helens Warehouse stops fire

Fire investigators found that a sprinkler system saved a St Helens warehouse from serious damage.

A suspected electrical fault in a lorry sparked a blaze at a giant distribution warehouse on Elton Head Road shortly after 11.30pm on April 25.

But crews from St Helens and Whiston Fire Stations spent just over an hour at the scene after a sprinkler system prevented the flames from spreading to the warehouse.

Watch manager Wayne Woods, from Whiston Community Fire Station, said: “A refrigerated LGV, around 18 tonnes, was parked under a covered loading bay when a fire started in the truck.

“Although the fire caused significant damage to the vehicle the adjacent building was saved from fire damage. But the situation would have been much worse had it not been for the operation of the sprinkler system, which, in addition to protecting the main building, also covered the loading bay areas.

“The system suppressed the fire to such an extent that crews were able to quickly bring the incident under control and the warehouse was fully operational within two hours of the start of the fire.

“The site’s emergency procedures were instigated and there were no reports of injuries.”

Earlier this year Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service staged a demonstration to highlight the impact of sprinklers in containing a fire and protecting items at the service’s training and development academy.

(As reported by The St Helens Reporter)