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50 firefighters tackle huge blaze
FIREFIGHTERS are today still tackling a large blaze which has torn through industrial units near Meadowhall overnight.
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The Met Office had to be contacted by fire bosses after fears the thick plume of smoke, which rose into the sky above Meadowbank Road, Rotherham, contained deadly asbestos particles.
The fire broke out at an office furniture distribution firm at Meadowbank Works just before 7pm and spread to the roof, which contained asbestos. The flames then spread to five neighbouring units.
A fire service spokesman said canisters containing an unknown gas were also discovered on site - prompting fire crews to throw a 200m cordon around the area.
At its height, 50 firefighters from stations across the county including Rotherham and Barnsley, tackled the blaze.
They were supported by an aerial ladder platform from Darnall and a technical rescue unit from the Dearne Valley.
This morning firefighters from Sheffield Central, Edlington, Rotherham and Tankersley were still at the scene putting out the flames.
A fire service spokesman said there had also been issues with water pressure.
He said: "They were going to try and pump water from the canal but that would have meant running the hoses across the main East Coast railway line between Sheffield and Doncaster. It was not possible to close the railway line and the water was sourced from other means."
Meadowbank Road was closed at the junctions of Oakdale Road and South Street but was re-opened to traffic this morning.
Residents were asked to stay indoors and close their doors and windows to keep out toxic smoke fumes.
There were no casualties.
Today the cause of the fire was under investigation.
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Weather for Sheffield
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
