Industrial Fire

Three firemen were injured and thousands of pounds worth of damage caused by a fire which ripped through a warehouse on Palma's Son Castello industrial estate yesterday. The fire, which started at 10.45, not only gutted the warehouse in calle Gremio Tejedores, but also seriously damaged the neighbouring buildings. Fortunately none of the staff was injured. The blaze sent a thick column of black smoke up over the city and the full extent of damage is not expected to be confirmed until fire investigators can get in to the buildings this morning. The Palma brigade mounted a massive operation and by 12.45 there were fire trucks and water tankers at the scene where over 30 firemen were battling the flames which were being fuelled by the highly flammable contents of the warehouse. The area was completely evacuated by the National and Local police, while firemen fought the fire. But the biggest threat was the thick toxic smoke being given off by piles of mattresses and other household fabrics, and the three injured fire fighters were treated at the scene by paramedics for the effects of smoke inhalation.