A firemen damps down the burning plastic with a water hose from one of the five pumps which were used.

Thick black smoke covered the whole of Queensgate yesterday morning, Monday 20th January 1975, as firemen fought a blaze at the Gretna Manufacturing Chemist Laboratories in Ruskin Street. Workers rushed from the building at 8.20 when the fire broke out in the storeroom where hundreds of empty plastic bottles were kept. Fire doors prevented the blaze spreading to other departments but the storeroom was badly damaged. Fortunately no one worked in the storeroom permanently so no one was inside when the fire started. A spokesman said there was no danger of an explosion because there were no chemicals in the building.

About 30 firemen, under the supervision of Divisional Commander Mr Peter Copley, spent an hour getting the blaze under control, but were still at the scene several hours later. They had to use breathing apparatus to get inside the storeroom and move the bottles. Yesterday afternoon the directors of the firm were still assessing the damage at the laboratory and were not available for comment. At one stage nearby householder were warned by police that they might have to evacuate their homes if the smoke and fumes got any worse, but this wasn't necessary.