Fire badly damages engineering firm's HQ
Intime Engineering in Ledbury employs about 20 people
- Published
Dozens of firefighters have tackled a blaze at an engineering company in Herefordshire.
Ten fire engines were sent to Intime Engineering on the Lower Road Trading Estate in Ledbury on Wednesday at about 19:25 BST and were there for several hours before the blaze was brought under control.
No-one was hurt but more than half of the building was damaged in the blaze.
Investigations into the cause of the fire were continuing but it was not thought to be suspicious, a spokesperson for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said.
Flames and plumes of smoke could be seen rising above the area near Aldi, with residents advised to keep their windows and doors closed.
The company employs about 20 people, including long-serving staff member Andy Ball, who was at the site on Thursday.
Asked if he knew what would happen in terms of jobs, he replied that "we don't know".
He added the owner would "probably get us all together and have...a meeting I expect and discuss what's gonna happen".
He also stated the owner had built the firm up over the last decade.
Worker Andy Ball said he thought "people that come here do tend to stay"
Mr Ball said: "I worked here for about 17 years first off. I went away, then came back and I've been here for about 20 years now.
"I think people that come here do tend to stay. It's one of those sort of companies."
Nearly two-thirds of the building was damaged, the fire service said
The station commander from the Hereford and Worcester service, Michelle Hicks, said the fire was "very, very severe when we first arrived".
"Crews worked tirelessly to bring that fire under control and because of their efforts we have managed to salvage some of the building," she added.
They were at the site through the night and on Thursday morning crews were "cutting away at the roof to make sure that we're damping down any areas that still might be alight up there", she said.
Two crews from Gloucestershire supported the Hereford and Worcester fire service.
The fire service said it took several hours to get the blaze under control
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