At around 6:30 a.m., a fire broke out on a pallet of aerosols being handled at a loading bay of a warehouse. The flames spread to a second pallet and the forklift truck. Burning aerosol cans were hurtled across the unit. The fire detection system went off, automatically causing the:

• sprinklers to come on (water and foam compound);
• the fire doors to close;
• the electric power to shut off;
• the valve on the firewater containment pond to close.

The internal emergency plan was implemented. The 95 workers were evacuated in less than 5 minutes. The firefighters arrived at 6:50 a.m. and extinguished the fire in 10 minutes.

One employee was taken to hospital after feeling faint. The door of the loading bay was damaged. Goods awaiting loading were rendered unfit for consumption by the sprinklers. A specialist company pumped up the firewater. The building was assessed for structural damage.

The fire was caused by the forklift operator pressing too hard on the pallet of aerosols. The operator had the sprinkler system recommissioned and recharged. The scenario of a vehicle catching fire in the loading bays was in the site’s safety report and provided for in its internal emergency plan.