2 Sisters’ Fox’s Biscuits factory fire hospitalises two

By Matt Atherton

- Last updated on GMT

Three fire crews were called to a blaze at Fox's Biscuit's factory in Staffordshire (Flickr/Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service)
Three fire crews were called to a blaze at Fox's Biscuit's factory in Staffordshire (Flickr/Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service)
Two engineers were hospitalised with smoke inhalation after a fire at 2 Sisters’ Fox’s Biscuits factory in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire this week (December 5).

Three fire crews arrived at the fire at 12.29pm, before two ambulances, a paramedic and a paramedic officer were called at 12.50pm.

Fire crews from Uttoxeter, Abbots Bromley and Longton were called to the scene. Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service reported the fire cause as “accidental ignition”​.

“We were first in attendance at 12.29pm yesterday, and we left the scene at 14.17pm,”​ a Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman told FoodManufacture.co.uk.

‘Accidental ignition’

“Four firefighters wore breathing apparatus, and used two hose reel jets to tackle the blaze.We’ve got a cause of ‘accidental ignition’, but nothing further on that at the moment.”

Emergency services confirmed that two people were transported to Burton’s Queen’s Hospital.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said: ​[We were] called at 12.50pm to reports of a building on fire. Two ambulances, a paramedic and paramedic officer were sent to the scene.

“Two patients were treated on scene before being taken to Burton​’s Queen’s Hospital with smoke inhalation. Their condition is not thought to be life-threatening.”

It was believed the fire started in an oven, 2 Sisters said. It was too early to survey the full extent of the damage, but staff have now continued production, it added.

Engineers suffered smoke inhalation

A 2 Sisters Food Group spokesman said: “There was a fire ​[on Monday] afternoon in an oven, and the site was evacuated safely. Two engineers suffered smoke inhalation and were sent to hospital as a precautionary measure.

"The rest of the workforce have returned to the site to continue production. It's too early to be sure of the full extent of the damage caused by the fire – that's still being evaluated and assessed. The important thing is it's been evacuated safely. Staff have returned to production, apart from on the affected line.”

Meanwhile, fire crews were called to a cake factory fire​ in Hamilton, near Glasgow, last week. Night shift workers at Lightbody’s factory – part of the Finsbury Food Group – were evactuated after a member of staff noticed smoke shortly before 4am.

2 Sisters’ Fox’s Biscuits factory fire – at a glance

  • Fire service called at 12.29pm on December 5
  • Ambulance called at 12.50pm
  • Two sent to hospital with smoke inhalation
  • Fire started in an oven

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