Oh no, not again (From Bucks Free Press)

Oh no, not again

8:32am Tuesday 4th July 2006 in

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A SUSPECTED arson attack saw a Wycombe scrap yard go up in smoke for the second time in three years.

Around 500 motors at Wycombe Car Spares, in Clay Lane, pictured above, burst into flames at midnight on Sunday. Ten fire engines tackled the intense blaze over night. The near-by High Heavens tip was cordoned off in case of explosions. People were being turned away from the site for safety yesterday. In March 2003 a similar blaze engulfed 1,800 cars and took more than 24 hours to get under control. Bucks Fire and Rescue is treating the fire as a suspected arson attack.

FIREFIGHTERS battled a massive blaze which engulfed 500 cars at a High Wycombe scrap yard.

The yard at Wycombe Car Spares caught fire for the second time in three years at around midnight on Sunday.

It is thought the breakers yard, close to the High Heavens recycling centre, was torched by arsonists.

Bucks Fire and Rescue received a number of 999 calls from people living in the area and put a pre-planned response into action.

Chris Bailey, one of the firefighters, fought the blaze first-hand. He said: "We sent a response of seven appliances because we have a well-practised operation in relation to this site.

"When we arrived there were 500 cars involved.

"It was a very intense fire because of the metals that were involved. There could have been cylinders there so we have to take precautions in that respect."

At the peak of the blaze nine fire engines from across the district were mobilised to tackle the burning cars, some of which had already been crushed. An area 150m square was affected and firefighters spent the night keeping the surrounding area safe.

In March 2003 fire engulfed 1,800 cars at the five-acre site.

Graham Field, High Wycombe fire station manager, said: "There are numerous hazards there. If there are potential explosive risks we would have to evacuate the area forming a safe cordon but that has not happened yet."

As the seriousness of the fire became apparent, more crews were sent to the scene in Clay Lane.

Firefighters from High Wycombe, Stokenchurch and Princes Risborough all helped to keep the fire contained to the scrap yard. People wanting to use the facility were being turned away by council workers on Monday morning.

Dale Anthony, the waste operations manager for the council, said the tip would remain closed until at least Tuesday and members of the public were warned not to try to use the dump.

Wycombe Car Spares takes in MoT failures or vehicles that are write-offs and breaks them for spares.

No one from the company was available for comment.