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Foundry in blast fear
HUNDREDS of residents were evacuated as part of a Sheffield suburb was cordoned off following the discovery of a highly explosive chemical at a metal works.
Workers at the Enpar Specialist Alloys foundry, on Johnson Lane, Ecclesfield, were shocked to find a glass jar of picric acid – similar to dynamite – during a routine audit yesterday lunchtime and called emergency services.
About 500 people were asked to leave their homes on Nether Lane and Johnson Lane and a 300 metre cordon was established around the site until Army bomb disposal officers arrived and carried out a controlled explosion on the substance at 11pm last night.
Supt Keith Lumley, of South Yorkshire Police, said: "The chemical was quite old and had been there for more than 20 years and was quite volatile. If it had been moved it could have been explosive.
"If the substance had been carried away from the site to a safer location, it might have exploded while being transported, so a decision was made to carry out a controlled explosion."
The chemical was discovered at about 1.30pm and the cordon was established by police in the afternoon, but a decision to evacuate residents was not made until after 6pm, by police, fire chiefs and Sheffield's emergency planning team.
Families were taken by minibus to Ecclesfield School, where council staff and volunteers from church groups and the Women's Royal Voluntary Service provided hot food and drinks.
Others stayed with relatives or spent the evening at local pubs.
Morrisons supermarket on The Common was also evacuated and services were halted on the Sheffield to Barnsley railway line, part of which was within the cordon.
Station Manager Martin Eccles, of South Yorkshire Fire Service, said: "There was a jar at the site containing about 250 ml of picric acid, which is normally kept under water, but had dried out.
"When it dries out it forms crystals which have the potential to detonate through vibration, or even by just unscrewing the lid."
The chemical is used in the metal industry but is known for its explosive properties and once formed part of artillery shells before World War I.
It could not be safely blown up in the building because there were other chemicals and a gas pipe, so soldiers and firefighters used 15 tonnes of sand to create an 'igloo' outside.
The acid was brought to the structure, where the explosion took place, with a dull thud, and no damage was caused to surrounding buildings.
It was delayed by an hour after the wrong type of sand was delivered – council workers had initially sent loose sand but firefighters and soldiers wanted it in bags.
Residents were in good spirits despite the evacuation but angry that such a dangerous substance had been stored yards from their homes.
Marc Winter, aged 26, of Johnson Lane, said: "I only moved here two weeks ago and I did not think there would be anything like this nearby in my life."
Chris Eastwood, of Mellow Lea Farm Drive, who was with partner Claire Parker and their two children aged four and eight, added: "I did not know there were dangerous chemicals so close to houses where there are families. It's very irresponsible."
Residents were allowed home once the site was declared safe.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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