THE QUICK action of firefighters today (Sunday, April 10) stopped a blaze in industrial unit from spreading to oxyacetylene tanks – preventing significant disruption which could have lasted until tomorrow.

County Durham Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the fire at a Durham County Council unit at the Hackworth Road Industrial Estate, near Peterlee, at 8.10am this morning.

The fire, which created a plume of smoke which could be seen for miles around, was tackled by crews from Peterlee and Wheatley Hill.

Group manager Steve Wharton said: “We were alerted by security staff to a fire in an annexe building.

“It was caused when a lorry caught fire, which may have been down to a wiring fault or some other unknown cause.

“The lorry contained oxyacetylene welding tanks and a 200m cordon was put in place as a precaution, until it was declared safe after two hours.”

He added: “The fire was contained to the factory unit. The quick action of the crews on the scene confined the fire to the vehicle and prevent more oxyacetylene cylinder in the unit from becoming involved in the fire.

“Had the fire spread to them that could have taken out the industrial estate for up to 24 hours and could have had far greater implications.

“Thankfully, because it was a Sunday, there was no one on the site apart from security staff and there have been no injuries.”

Mr Wharton thanked the many members of the public who contacted the fire brigade their “vigilance and conscientiousness”.

The fire is not being treated as suspicious.