Explosion Averted – Hot Ashes catch Fire

June 1966

South Yorkshire Times June 11, 1966

Explosion Averted

A serious explosion was narrowly avoided at Conisbrough on Tuesday when red-hot Ashes caused a fire to break out in one of the Councils refuge vehicles at the Sheffield road tip.

The vehicle was being prepared to tip onto the dump when dense smoke and flames poured from the back. The driver ran to call the fire brigade. Mr Peter Allen, a mechanic employed by the Council tackled the blaze with a fire extinguisher. He managed to hold the flames down until the fire brigade arrived and put the fire out, but as it was £100 worth of damage was done to the interior of the vehicle and the hydraulic load compressing system.

Asst Public Health Officer, Mr J Worthy, told the “South Yorkshire Times”: “If the flames are been allowed to reach the vehicle’s petrol tank there could have been a very serious explosion. Mr Allen’s actions probably prevented that.”

The Clerk of the Council: Mr E.T.Mellor said: “People putting hot ashes in their dustbin is a recurring problem in all areas where solid fuel is in general use.”