Fire investigators are probing the cause of a blaze at a chemical plant in Derby, UK.

Fire investigators are probing the cause of a blaze at a chemical plant in Derby, UK. The fire is thought to have broken out in a pumping station at the Acordis cigarette filter plant. Plant operators say that the possible cause of the blaze was a leak of highly flammable benzene from a tank into the atmosphere.

Benzene is used at the plant in the manufacture of cigarette filter tips, to produce cellulose acetate flakes which are spun into the filter tips. The tank held about a ton of benzene.

An Acordis spokesman said: ’A fire was detected in a pumping station conveying solvent used in the manufacture of acetic anhydride.’ The fire was brought under control by the emergency services, he added.

’All personnel have been accounted for and there were no injuries’.

He revealed that ’the plants served by the pumping station will be shut down until damage is assessed. Other site operations are running normally’.

Andrew Smith