Preventing Polution from Wood Burning Stoves

 

A Welsh engineer from Cardiff has invented a new type of domestic woodburning stove to eliminate indoor pollution from wood burning stoves.

Marc Howell, who studied engineering at Cardiff University followed by years working as an engineer in the automotive and semiconductor industries, spent seven years working in his garage near Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan to perfect new patented technology that provides a real wood burning stove experience but without the risk of indoor air pollution.

This was the driving force for Marc, the founder of Island Pellet Stoves, who could not only see the benefits of sustainably heating a home with wood, but he could also see the potential conflict of its air quality impact on health.

“Burning wood just had to be made more efficient and less polluting” said Marc “through our experiences of reducing emissions from larger scale wood pellet systems we knew there was a way to create the real wood fire experience that is so desirable in the UK but yet do it cleanly and not at the cost of harming health’.”

Challenge

It was wood pellets that are manufactured from timber industry sawdust and are produced into dry, regular-shaped pellets containing less than 1% ash and less than 10% water that were the key to the challenge.

A computer-controlled stove, that automatically lights the wood pellets and controls the feeding of the pellets with precise levels of pre-heated air, allows greater control of the combustion process and was found to be the way to significantly reduce the emissions and increase the overall efficiency of using the energy from the wood pellet fuel.

The air used for burning the wood pellets is pre-heated to a high temperature by the exhaust gases using a “balanced flue” as is

A computer-controlled stove, that automatically lights the wood pellets and controls the feeding of the pellets with precise levels of pre-heated air, allows greater control of the combustion process and was found to be the way to significantly reduce the emissions and increase the overall efficiency of using the energy from the wood pellet fuel.

The air used for burning the wood pellets is pre-heated to a high temperature by the exhaust gases using a “balanced flue” as is commonplace with domestic gas boilers.

The stoking or feeding of the pellets from the on-board storage hopper to the “burn-pot” is done automatically with a computer-controlled “Archimedes screw” and so there is no need to open the stove door during operation (as there would be with a log-burning stove) and so the risk of harmful pollutants entering the home is eliminated.

Welsh manufacturer

A recent report commissioned by DEFRA (The UK Government’s Department for Food and Rural Affairs) and published in Feb 2025 called “Emission Factors for Domestic Solid Fuels” has confirmed through their testing that the pellet stoves made by Island Pellet Stoves Ltd are around 20 times cleaner than a modern log-burner for emissions of particulates.

Marc, who considers himself simply a “man in the shed” inventor might just have cracked the problem so we can continue to enjoy wood-burning but without the harmful side-effects.

Island Pellet Stoves Ltd is the UK’s market leader in pellet stoves and proudly designs and manufactures its stoves in Wales.

 

Source: Nation Cymru

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Bridging the Gap, in Three Years

 

The world’s highest bridge was opened to traffic in China, capping an engineering feat three years in the making and snatching the record from another bridge in the same province.

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge towers 625 meters (2,051 feet) above a river and vast gorge in the country’s rugged southern province of Guizhou, also home to the 565-meter Beipanjiang Bridge that is now the world’s second highest.

Live drone footage broadcast by state media vehicles traversing the immense structure, its blue support towers partially engulfed in clouds.

Crowds of onlookers, including project engineers and local officials, gathered on the bridge for a ceremony to mark the occasion, several expressing their pride and excitement in live interviews to state media.

“The opening of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge reduces travel time between the two sides from two hours to two minutes,” Zhang Yin, head of the provincial transport department, said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Its opening makes “enormous improvements to regional transportation conditions and (injects) new impetus into regional economic and social development,” she said.

China has invested heavily in major infrastructure projects in recent decades, a period of rapid economic growth and urbanization in the country.

The hilly province of Guizhou, in particular, is crisscrossed by thousands of bridges – which now include the world’s two highest.

State news agency Xinhua said Wednesday that nearly half of the world’s 100 highest bridges are located in the province.

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge took more than three years to complete, Xinhua reported. Its 1,420-meter main span makes it the “world’s largest-span bridge built in a mountainous area,” it added.

Apart from the world’s highest bridge, the tallest – measured in terms of the height of its own structure, rather than the distance to the ground – remains France’s Millau viaduct at 343 meters.

 

Source: Daily Sabah

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Cistermiser calls for urgent action to curb everyday waste

 

UK Government Puts Water Efficiency In The Spotlight Cistermiser calls for urgent action to curb everyday waste

 

With DEFRA placing resource efficiency and water resilience at the heart of its latest policy agenda, Cistermiser is warning that millions of litres of drinking water are still being lost through avoidable leaks and poor washroom practices every day.

 

The Department’s call for responsible resource management comes against the backdrop of mounting concern over water scarcity, rising utility costs and the environmental toll of wasted resources. Industry experts warn that without rapid change, parts of the UK could face significant supply shortfalls within 20 years.

 

Cistermiser’s Managing Director Richard Braid says:

“DEFRA is absolutely right to elevate water efficiency alongside energy and carbon reduction. We cannot afford to treat water as limitless. From leaking toilets in schools and hospitals, to inefficient washroom systems in offices and public spaces, the scale of waste is staggering.

“The good news is the technology already exists to solve this problem – and to do so quickly. At Cistermiser we see it as our role to turn Government policy into everyday reality by giving building owners and facilities managers the tools to manage water responsibly, cut costs and support national sustainability targets.”

 

Water efficiency is also linked to economic growth and DEFRA is working closely with MHCLG to explore whether the Building Regulations 2010 could be amended to tighten water efficiency standards. That is because DEFRA believes a failure to implement water demand management measures in response to water scarcity could result in over 61,000 houses not being built costing the economy £25 billion in this parliamentary term.

 

“We welcome the public consultation on the review of water efficiency in the Building Regulations and will be contributing to it,” continues Richard.  “By positioning ourselves as a practical partner to Government and industry, Cistermiser is demonstrating how water-efficient technologies can underpin national ambitions on growth sustainability, resilience and Net Zero.”

 

Cistermiser’s product range, including intelligent urinal controls and leak prevention technologies, is already helping estates across the UK tackle unnecessary consumption. The business is now urging facilities managers, landlords and contractors to use DEFRA’s latest policy focus as a trigger for immediate review of water usage.

 

A recent installation at Radisson RED London Heathrow shows the potential impact. By adopting Cistermiser sensor technology, the hotel has reduced water consumption in its washroom urinals by an impressive 84% while also cutting associated carbon emissions.

 

The project demonstrates how targeted interventions can deliver measurable savings and aligns with both Government and industry sustainability priorities.

 

CLICK HERE for more information on the Cistermiser range

 

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Actis welcomes call for ‘skill, baby, skill’ to support ‘build, baby, build’ initiative

Actis’ Hybrid range is used in brick and block as well as offsite constructed homes,

the latter of which can be built around 30% faster than traditional properties   

Insulation specialist Actis has backed a warning by the NHBC that ‘skill, baby, skill’ is required for the government to achieve its target to ‘build, baby, build’ 1.5 million homes by 2029.

The call, by NHBC chief operating officer David Campbell at a construction reception at the Labour party conference, stressed that a significant expansion of the housebuilding workforce was vital to enable it to hit its ambitious target.

This is the latest warning from industry bodies, which also include Checkatrade and the Association of Project Managers, that strong investment and sustained action are required to bridge the construction industry skills gap.

David Campbell said that merely to meet current demand, before even considering upping housebuilding volumes, would require an additional 250,000 construction workers by 2028.

Actis UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper agrees that encouraging more people to choose a career in construction is vital if such a target is to be achieved.

The company is playing its part by upskilling existing professionals via its RIBA-approved CPD training courses and interesting young people in the industry through school and college outreach sessions.

Mark adds that at the other end of the process the housebuilding industry must also embrace speedier construction methods to help compensate for a smaller than needed workforce.

That means more offsite construction, which can be around 30% faster than traditional brick and block, thus increasing output capacity.

Actis UK and Ireland sales director Mark Cooper backs NHBC’s call for ‘skills, baby, skills’ to help the government ‘build, baby, build.’

 

“Our Hybrid insulation systems are used in many of these modular homes. As the products can be installed by less experienced members of the construction team, this frees up the longer serving colleagues to carry out some of the more skilled tasks,” explained Mark.

“As they are factory built, such homes are also known to deliver more consistent quality and more effective thermal efficiency.”

 

 

 

He welcomes the widening of NHBC’s apprenticeship training network and £100 million investment in 12 new multi-skill training hubs across the UK, each of which will train 3,000 new apprentices each year, initially in the most needed trades.

And he echoed David Campbell’s support of government initiatives such as its £625 million investment in construction skills, the creation of the Construction Skills Mission Board and the £3 billion apprenticeship budget.

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE ACTIS WEBSITE

 

 

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Rinnai and Kimpton Deliver Zero-Downtime Hot Water Solution

   

Rinnai and Kimpton Deliver Zero-Downtime Hot

Water Solution for Spire Murrayfield Hospital

 

Kimpton, the Liverpool and Northwest-based HVAC specialist contractor, has supplied and installed the Spire Murrayfield hospital in Barnston, Wirral with an emergency replacement Rinnai hot water heating system after the site’s gas fired storage water heaters failed to operate.

Replacing the hot water heater system meant that the hospital could continue supplying daily care to the community without interruption to medical continuity. The hospital produced its hot water for the X Ray and other departments via a single gas fired storage water heater. When this unit failed, an urgent response was required to ensure continuity of supply for patients and staff.

Kimpton offers temporary boiler and water heater hire, so this was the first port of call. Within a few hours problem had been isolated, and the new temporary boiler set had been installed to ensure zero downtime. This system was made up of two 58kW gas-fired Rinnai water heaters on a simple skid. The temporary system had been designed by the team at Kimptons with support of Rinnai, so we were confident it would work exactly as required.

The finished system was made up of a buffer vessel and two higher efficiency Rinnai modulating gas-fired 20% hydrogen ready water heaters of 58kW each. This set up allows the system to regulate capacity as required and ensure both continuous flow water heaters are cycled evenly. The new system allows water to be raised in temperature from 20 degrees to its max of 65 degrees in only 15 minutes, so allows huge flexibility.

The project was managed by Paul Bowes and Stuart Dilworth from start to finish. Speaking about it, Paul said

“The whole project went well from the outset. Customers like Spire Murrayfield must be able to operate with zero downtime. Our temporary hot water heater system saved the day in this project and allowed us to conduct the system upgrade with no dramas and zero downtime.”

The Rinnai instant hot water solutions are an ideal solution for mobile, temporary and heat for hire services as they are light weight (28kgs) high power (58kw) diminutive water heaters. Another added benefit is that they come with market leading warranties up to 12 years and can be easily set for LPG or NG dependent on site needs.

Sam Carson speaking on behalf of Rinnai stated,

“It is a pleasure working with Kimptons and I am pleased that the easy fit, high flow rate nature of Rinnai appliances proved to be an ideal option for the hospital and my friends at Kimptons.”

Rinnai is global leader in hot water systems with 2M+ units produced annually. The gas-fired water heaters are hydrogen 20% blend ready and BioLPG ready, future proofing hire applications and many more. Rinnai also provide innovative heat pump and hybrid solutions for a wide range of commercial projects. Ensuring the supply of heating and hot water systems for multiple fuel sources and creating options for clients such as Kimptons.

Kimpton has been delivering M&E projects, commercial fit-out and HVAC services across the Liverpool City Region since 1963. The company places great emphasis on M & E innovation. For example, for many, heat pump technology is new, but Kimpton began designing and installing heat pumps in 1974 when it helped Walkers Crisps and Golden Wonder solve the problem of how to make the stored potatoes last longer. By dramatically changing the length of time potatoes could be stored, it allowed them to buy potatoes when they were plentiful and, in its own way, revolutionised the UK’s potato crisp industry.

This culture of innovation has led to the delivery of two other UK firsts in renewable technology – Kimpton designed and installed the UK’s first water source heat pumps in open sea at Plas Newydd, Anglesey for the National Trust and installed one of the UK’s first Transpired Solar Collectors with TATA steel at the SBEC Building on Deeside.

COMMERCIAL, DOMESTIC AND OFF-GRID HEATING & HOT WATER DELIVERY

www.rinnai-uk.co.uk/about us/H3

Rinnai’s range of decarbonising products – H1/H2/H3 – consists of hot water heating units in gas/BioLPG/DME, hydrogen ready units, electric instantaneous hot water heaters, electric storage cylinders and buffer vessels, a comprehensive range of heat pumps, solar, hydrogen-ready or natural gas in any configuration of hybrid formats for either residential or commercial applications. Rinnai’s H1/2/3 range of products and systems offer contractors, consultants, and end users a range of efficient, robust, and affordable low carbon/decarbonising appliances which create practical, economic, and technically feasible solutions.

Rinnai is a world leading manufacturer of hot water heaters and produces over two million units a year, operating on each of the five continents. The brand has gained an established reputation for producing products that offer high performance, cost efficiency and extended working lives.

Rinnai products are UKCA certified, A-rated water efficiency, accessed through multiple fuel options and are available for purchase 24/7, 365 days a year. Any unit can be delivered to any UK site within 24 hours.

Rinnai offer carbon and cost comparison services that will calculate financial, and carbon savings made when investing in a Rinnai system. Rinnai also provide a system design service that will suggest an appropriate system for the property in question.

Rinnai offer comprehensive training courses and technical support in all aspects of the water heating industry including detailed CPD’s.

The Rinnai range covers all forms of fuels and appliances currently available – electric, gas, hydrogen, BioLPG, DME solar thermal, low GWP heat pumps and electric water heaters More information can be found on Rinnai’s website and its “Help Me Choose” webpage.

 

 

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE RINNAI WEBSITE

or HERE to EMAIL RINNAI

CLICK HERE For more information on the RINNAI product range

 

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Next generation of new towns must be future-proof

 

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has described the Government’s decision to press ahead with a new generation of new towns as one of the most ambitious development initiatives in more than fifty years – and one that must be built on lessons from the past if it is to succeed.

The Government has confirmed that at least three new towns will be advanced in this Parliament, following recommendations from the New Towns Taskforce, which identified twelve potential locations.

The RTPI, which recently published survey data showing that 73% of the public are not confident new towns will meet community needs in 50 years’ time, has urged the Government to ensure lessons are learned from the past and that local communities are placed at the heart of planning and delivery.

Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI, said:

 “The Government’s commitment to a new generation of new towns is a bold step, and one of the most ambitious approaches to development in half a century. It represents an opportunity to think differently about how and where we create the places of the future.

“However, while it’s good to see the Government looking toward the future, it’s important to remember the lessons from the past. The first wave of new towns showed what can be achieved when government and planners work at scale, but they also highlight the importance of getting design, infrastructure, and community voice right from the very start. Public support for new towns will depend on learning those lessons and making sure they reflect the aspirations of the people who will live and work in them. Our members stand ready to deliver successful places and communities for now and many generations to come.

“Our research shows that people want to see a variety of organisations involved in delivery, new ways of planning and funding explored, and – above all – local communities given a genuine say in shaping their future.

“If this generation of new towns is built around those principles, they can become thriving, sustainable places that stand the test of time and capture the same spirit of ambition that inspired their predecessors.”

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Decarbonised Cement in North Wales

 

Heidelberg Materials is building the world’s first carbon capture facility to enable fully decarbonised cement production in North Wales after reaching a FID (Final Investment Decision) with the UK Government.

 

The announcement, made by Michael Shanks, Energy Minister in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, allows the building materials manufacturer to begin construction of its carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at its existing Padeswood cement works near Mold.

The firm said the CCS project will bring significant economic benefits to the region through investment and job creation. It will protect more than 200 direct and indirect jobs and create around 50 new ones, as well as up to 500 more during construction.

Heidelberg Materials will start construction of the carbon capture facility at Padeswood later this year and will be able to produce net zero cement for the construction industry in 2029.

The process to appoint a main contractor is underway and the company intends to ensure that supply chain contracts are placed locally wherever possible and that the skills and employment opportunities the project brings for the region are fully realised.

Simon Willis, CEO at Heidelberg Materials UK, said:

“Our constructive partnership with the UK Government has allowed us to reach this major milestone, which is fantastic news, not just for us, but for the industry as a whole.

“Our new facility at Padeswood will be a world-leader. It will capture around 800,000 tonnes of CO₂ a year from our existing cement works, allowing us to produce evoZero carbon captured net zero cement, which will help the UK construction industry reach its decarbonisation aims.

“CCS is a growing sector worldwide and our Padeswood project is an exemplar, helping position north Wales – and the UK – as a global force at the forefront of this technology. It will also pave the way to decarbonising our domestic cement industry, helping it remain competitive while mitigating against climate change.”

 

The decision to support the Padeswood CCS project aligns with the UK Government’s ambitions to reduce CO₂ emissions and deliver economic growth through construction.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said:

“Our clean-energy mission means good jobs, regional growth, and investment for local communities.

“This trailblazing cement works showcases the north Wales workforce on the global stage – leading the charge in the clean industries of the future and powering Britain’s reindustrialisation through this UK-first project.”

Cement is the ‘glue’ in concrete, the most widely used building material in the world, but its production gives rise to CO₂. As these emissions result from the chemical process involved in cement’s manufacture, they cannot be avoided by using low carbon or renewable energy sources. The firm said the only way to remove them and produce net zero cement is to capture them using CCS before they enter the atmosphere.

The carbon capture facility at Padeswood is designed to capture almost all (around 95 per cent) of the CO₂ emissions from the process. The emissions captured from the kiln include biogenic CO₂ from biomass fuels, mainly from domestic food, wood and paper wastes that cannot be recycled, which could allow the cement produced at Padeswood to be net negative, said the firm.

The carbon captured at Padeswood will be compressed and transported via an underground pipeline for secure storage under the seabed in Liverpool Bay as part of the HyNet North West project.

Heidelberg Materials officially opened the world’s first carbon capture facility at a cement works in Brevik, Norway, in June this year. There 50 per cent of the plant’s CO₂ emissions are being captured as part of the Norwegian government’s Longship programme.

 

Source: Business News Wales

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‘Build,Baby, Build’ but what about ‘Skill, Baby, Skill’

The Government’s new mantra to “build, baby, build” must be matched with a national effort to “skill, baby, skill,” the National House Building Council’s (NHBC) Chief Operating Officer David Campbell will warn in his speech to the Labour Party Conference on Sunday, urging urgent action to grow the house-building workforce.

The call comes after Housing Secretary Steve Reed vowed earlier this month to “leave no stone unturned” in delivering 1.5 million new homes, bringing together developers and housebuilders to accelerate construction.

Housing targets will falter
Mr Campbell will warn that without a significant and sustained expansion of the house-building workforce, the Government’s housing targets will be difficult to achieve.

Speaking at The Big Construction Reception, Mr Campbell will say: “We welcome ‘build, baby, build,’ but we need to ‘skill, baby, skill’ to ensure we have the workforce needed to build 1.5 million homes.”

NHBC pumps £100m into hubs to train 3,000 apprentices a year

As the UK’s leading provider of new home warranties and a champion of quality in house building, NHBC is widening its apprenticeship training network and investing a £100m in 12 new multi-skill training hubs across the UK. Each new training hub will be roughly two-thirds the size of a football pitch and train 3,000 new apprentices each year initially in the most needed trades.

“Without a significant increase in the workforce, scaling up the volume of quality new homes will be incredibly challenging,” Mr Campbell will say. “More than 250,000 extra construction workers will be needed by 2028 just to meet the current demand, let alone build more new homes. That’s why we must get moving now. You can’t create a skilled workforce overnight. At NHBC, we’re committed to being part of the solution. That’s why we’re heavily investing in practical, long-term training initiatives to help build the skilled workforce our industry urgently needs.”

NHBC warns build quality at risk

NHBC’s latest Foundation report, Maintaining quality in the design and construction of 1.5 million homes, highlights the historic link between rising build volumes and falling customer satisfaction. Mr Campbell will argue that ensuring a strong supply of skilled workers is the key to breaking this cycle.

“Our first multi-skill training hub, based in Lichfield, funded in partnership with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), with land provided by Barratt Redrow, is already open and training apprentices from all backgrounds in urgently needed trades including bricklaying, groundworks and site-carpentry. By training the next generation of house builders in conditions as close to real sites as possible and to industry leading NHBC standards, we are delivering qualified and quality tradespeople in just 14 to 18 months, nearly half the time of more traditional education routes, equipping them with the skills needed to be site ready from day one.

“With high achievement levels and a retention rate of around 90% at our existing hubs for bricklaying, we expect the majority of the 3,000 apprentices who will train with us each year to continue working in the house-building industry and, vitally, help to close the sector’s skills gap. This is the kind of sustained, practical investment that will help us build both the homes and the careers this country needs.”

Collaboration vital to deliver homes and quality
Mr Campbell will also welcome recent Government initiatives, including the £625m investment in construction skills, the creation of the Construction Skills Mission Board and the £3bn apprenticeship budget. But he will stress that collaboration between Government and industry is essential to deliver both quality and quantity.

“Together, with continued collaboration, we can build the homes this country needs and ensure they are built to the highest standards.”

For more about NHBC’s multi-skill training hubs visit www.nhbc.co.uk/traininghub.

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Survey Shows Constrution Workload Increase

The UK construction industry has seen an increase in workload, employment opportunities, and work enquiries – the first time in two years all three areas have seen growth – according to new data from the Federation of Master Builders.

The news comes as part of the SME State of Trade Survey for January to June 2025, which reveals even more truths about the current state of the construction industry.

But it’s not all good news – with skills shortages and rising costs continuing to plague the trades, which could go on to affect homeowners and the wider economy.

Workloads and employment in construction on the up

increase in employment in the first half of 2025

Looking specifically at UK nations, the increase in industry workload is as follows:

36 per cent increase in Northern Ireland

30 per cent increase in Scotland

24 per cent increase in Wales

21 per cent increase in England

Skills shortage still a problem

Despite these positive increases, the same study reveals that the skills shortage continues to be a problem for the construction industry – with carpenters the most difficult skill to recruit for.

Top 3 trades affected by the skill shortage

 

Across all trades, 64 per cent of those surveyed revealed they find it difficult to recruit staff knowledgeable on new building safety regimes. While 59 per cent stated they struggle to recruit staff with modern sustainable building practices.

These shortages have caused problems for building firms across the country – with 61 per cent saying their work was affected. Of this number, 49 per cent revealed it resulted in delays, while 23 per cent had their jobs cancelled entirely.

Construction prices continue to rise

While recruitment slows, prices continue to rise – with 75 per cent revealing they’ve seen an increase in the cost of materials.

The impact of these cost increases has meant:

  • 56 per cent have had to raise their prices
  • 49 per cent reported lower than expected profits or losses
  • 34 per cent have restricted recruitment
  • 25 per cent feared for their business’s viability

  • 22 per cent have had to make redundancies

‘The industry is ready to build, but it needs support to do so’

Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the Federation of Master Builders, said: “If skills shortages and planning delays aren’t addressed, there’s a risk that the economic recovery will be slowed down and housing targets won’t be delivered.

“The industry is ready to build, but it needs support to do so. Without it, homeowners may be left waiting, and the UK could fall further behind on the homes that are urgently needed.

“Action is needed to ensure that the recovery is not just short-lived but sustainable, and that builders have the tools they need to keep Britain building.”

Key takeaways – 2025 construction trends

  • construction workloads, enquiries, and employment increased during the first half of the year
  • skills shortages continue to affect recruitment – leading to delays and canceled jobs
  • carpenters, roofers, and plumbers are the top three trades affected by the skills shortage
  • rising costs are having a significant impact on construction businesses
  • continued delays could go on to affect homeowners and the wider economy

 

Source: Simply Business

 

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Solar Panels Linked to Blaze at School

Imagery: Ellesmere Fire Station & Tim Thursfield

 By Luke Powell 

St Martins School has told pupils to stay at home after a “serious” fire broke out at its premises.

Flames and smoke were seen coming from St Martins School near Oswestry at around 5.24pm on Sunday (September 21) prompting a large-scale response from emergency services.

In a message to parents and carers, as well as a public notice, headteacher Alison Pope said the fire is believed to be linked to the building’s solar panels.

An assistance message was sent by the fire service to increase the response to five fire engines, later escalating to eight pumps and an aerial ladder platform, with additional support from the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service (NWFRS).

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze using hose reel jets, and deployed thermal imaging cameras to identify and extinguish hot spots. Positive pressure ventilation fans were also used to clear smoke from the building.

Crews worked both inside the school and on the building’s rooftops to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas.

The fire service said crews remained on the site throughout Sunday evening and Monday to ensure the area is safe.

Oswestry Fire Station said:

“As you may be aware, there has been a serious fire at St Martins School in Oswestry. Oswestry was mobilised to the incident and was first in attendance.

“An assistance message was quickly sent to make pumps five for resources and water due to flames and smoke coming from the school hall area. Oswestry and Ellesmere Fire Station quickly committed crews wearing breathing apparatus inside the building to tackle the fire, crews also sprayed water from nearby rooftops to help tackle the blaze.

“The incident was taken to stage two, so a higher level of command and resources were needed, taking this incident to eight pumps and an aerial ladder platform. Appliances also came from North Wales FRS.

“Crews worked extremely hard to stop this fire escalating and spreading to adjoining buildings. The school is confirmed closed (Monday, September 22) to all pupils and pupils and parents will be notified via email from the school with updates.

“We would like to thank staff at the school for your assistance and we will work closely to help where we can. Crews will remain at the scene for some time to make sure there is no further danger. We would also like to thank North Wales FRS for staying on standby at Oswestry Fire Station while we attended this protracted incident.”

Photos and videos shared online – including by Ellesmere Fire Station – showed flames pouring from the building as thick smoke billowed into the evening sky.

A spokesperson said firefighters remained at the scene into the night to ensure the fire was fully extinguished.

Images and drone footage captured on Monday revealed the extent of the damage to the school building, including several solar panels on the roof

The 3-18 Education Trust, which operates the school, confirmed the closure, stating:

“A fire broke out at St Martins School on Sunday, September 21. Staff are working to determine the extent of the damage to the school building. The school is closed to all pupils on Monday, September 22.

“Parents/families will be informed about plans for the rest of the week as soon as possible.

“Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service will now conduct a full investigation to establish thecause of the fire. The school wish to express their gratitude to Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service for their support during this incident.”

Source: Shropshire Star

 

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