Workers forced to flee as 50ft flames rip through rendering factory (VIDEO)
THIS is the moment a bonemeal factory near Lincoln was rocked by a massive explosion.
Ten fire crews worked through the night to tackle the blaze that followed at the rendering plant at Jerusalem Farm, in Skellingthorpe.
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An image of the fire taken by Echo reader Scott Cleaver on his phone.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing a loud bang and saw flames shooting 50ft high in the night sky.
Thomas Lyon, 19, of Skellingthorpe, said: "When we heard the explosion, we could feel the house shake to its foundations. Then there was an overwhelming stench of burning animal and industrial waste."
Ten nightshift workers were forced to flee the factory, which is operated by A Hughes and Son Ltd.
Firefighters from Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire were called out just before 10pm on Sunday. The main building suffered structural and severe fire damage while some animal fat storage tanks and gas cylinders were destroyed.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue said the cause was a dust explosion.
Watch a video of the fire and explosion captured by Echo reader Scott Cleaver...
IN YOUR ECHO: Villagers say they will not miss 'smells produced by the factory'.
19 Comments
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by anon, Lincoln
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 1:39PM
“If the plant has been there for over 80 years why do so many people choose to live there if they dislike the smell so much? I imagine the substance you believe is being used on the fields can only be either rendered animal parts or refined oils both of which aren't used in this manner and to be honest I doubt there is a secret operation in play due to strict environmental regulations.”
by Missouri Marten, Lincoln
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 11:41AM
“Awwwwww, did the nasty men disagree with you and hurt your feelings ex scallywag? Poor little lamb.
Aubrey Hughes' plant stinks. It's a truly vile nausea-inducing smell at times. Which is why I choose not to live near it. What I certainly wouldn't do is a buy a house on its doorstep and then spend all my time whining like a stuck pig about the stench.
As to the conspiracy theories - why not share them with The Environmental Health Department of the local council if you have genuine concerns, rather than bleating on here?”
by Julian, Slovenia
Wednesday, July 28 2010, 5:28AM
“Ha! You think that's bad. www.aaa.si
Quite why these things are put near people is a mystery.”
by ex skellywag, lincoln
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 9:58PM
“skellyman you are talking alot of sense people like the BIG mouth missouri marten and the other idiot anou....who works for this stink bomb of a factory should take a serious look at the health reasons surroundings this awfull smell that burdens alot of people., who would not usually complain and live near this stink bomb factory of animal guts and gluck”
by lynn, lincoln
Tuesday, July 27 2010, 8:39PM
“Donna, your Father has a lot of guts working at this factory (forgive the pun). I hope they get up and running again, and dad brings home the bacon (again, no pun intended) for you all. Dad certainly must have a good stomach to work in this kind of environment.”