News
Published on 27 - April - 2009
Massive fire at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre
More than 60 firefighters battled a blaze at Ruxley Manor Garden Centre in Sidcup yesterday after a fire broke out in the early afternoon.A 300m cordon was set up around the centre and part of the A20 closed because of the risk of explosion from gas canisters on the site.
The fire, which is thought to have started in one of the centre's warehouses, was brought under control by early evening and, according to reports, is being treated as an accident.
Send to a friend
Link to this pageComments
By joshua youell
i could see the the smoke from swanley park snd me and my friend thought it was the golf course
By pb
wot the hell are the staff doing there have they done a fire clinic if not why not management are to blame staff had not had a clue?????????
By by francesca
I could see the smoke from west king down and all the animals are ok apart from the rabbits they died
By Ria
I could see the smoke from this fire from my back garden in South Darenth and only heard that it was Ruxley 2 days after,what a shame as i go to Ruxley quite a lot.
Was glad to hear that no one was hurt but would like to know if all the animals are ok??
By James
Also there when the Fire Broke Out. Smoke could be seen from outside for a good 5 Minutes before we decided to leave. No Alarm could be heard although we were outside and noone was advising us to leave or evacuate premise, only exit was via shop (fire exits not open) and fire was clearly burning through roof of warehouse very close to this exit. Staff were standing outside and noone was asking people to move away or providing any direction. this could clearly have been dangerous as fire was obviously out off control. It was about further 5 minutes before any action was seen from staff to try aid traffic trying to leave. A total review of Fire procedures is required as way handled was totally unacceptable.
By Sian Morton
Does anyone know if all the animals are okay?
By Claire
I was there when the fire broke out we only realised when we heard evacuate on a member of staff's radio and all he did was stand there at no time were we asked to leave and no alarms went off.The staff had no idea what they were doing.Message to management DO MORE FIRE DRILL TRAINING.
By Jake Lewis
i was flying to stansted and we flew in over kent and as we were turning to head towalds west london we could see huge amounts of black smoke and on the way home in the car we could see the smoke from along way away in essex
By Colin
Are these garden centres safe?
It is evident that garden centres have been allowed to develop into wider retail outlets selling everything from furniture to food- all in what appear to be modified greenhouses.I was at Polhill on Monday (27th) and was concerned at how much space they occupy (under glass) and kept wondering how would I get out in an emergency.
By debbie holly hoath
Why didnt the alarms go off who was hut when our fire alarms go off in my school we get out in case there is a fire.is everyone ok at ruxley manor garden center.By Debbie Holly Hoath
By john J rambo
i was in the garden centre as well, close to the start of it, getting covered in ash and smoke, the staff were confused just as much as everyone else, no alarm bells, no fire wardens, a muffled announcement, gridlock in the carpark, people standing around taking photos, i think th staff need to do more evacuation drills, as do the local traffic police
By Mandy
I was there when the fire broke out and when the staff evacuated us. Staff were incredible, calm and professional - but I don't remember a single fire alarm going out and there was certainly NO public announcement asking everyone to evacuate. Left to staff to yell to everyone to get out and show the way.
Ruxley are lucky they have the staff they do !
17/08/2010 15:53:00
By joshua youell
i could see the the smoke from swanley park snd me and my friend thought it was the golf course
25/05/2009 20:33:00
help wots going onBy pb
wot the hell are the staff doing there have they done a fire clinic if not why not management are to blame staff had not had a clue?????????
30/04/2009 17:33:00
By by francesca
I could see the smoke from west king down and all the animals are ok apart from the rabbits they died
30/04/2009 14:02:00
By Ria
I could see the smoke from this fire from my back garden in South Darenth and only heard that it was Ruxley 2 days after,what a shame as i go to Ruxley quite a lot.
Was glad to hear that no one was hurt but would like to know if all the animals are ok??
30/04/2009 12:27:00
By James
Also there when the Fire Broke Out. Smoke could be seen from outside for a good 5 Minutes before we decided to leave. No Alarm could be heard although we were outside and noone was advising us to leave or evacuate premise, only exit was via shop (fire exits not open) and fire was clearly burning through roof of warehouse very close to this exit. Staff were standing outside and noone was asking people to move away or providing any direction. this could clearly have been dangerous as fire was obviously out off control. It was about further 5 minutes before any action was seen from staff to try aid traffic trying to leave. A total review of Fire procedures is required as way handled was totally unacceptable.
29/04/2009 14:33:00
Animals at RuxleyBy Sian Morton
Does anyone know if all the animals are okay?
29/04/2009 13:02:00
By Claire
I was there when the fire broke out we only realised when we heard evacuate on a member of staff's radio and all he did was stand there at no time were we asked to leave and no alarms went off.The staff had no idea what they were doing.Message to management DO MORE FIRE DRILL TRAINING.
28/04/2009 18:37:00
could be seen for milesBy Jake Lewis
i was flying to stansted and we flew in over kent and as we were turning to head towalds west london we could see huge amounts of black smoke and on the way home in the car we could see the smoke from along way away in essex
28/04/2009 07:19:00
By Colin
Are these garden centres safe?
It is evident that garden centres have been allowed to develop into wider retail outlets selling everything from furniture to food- all in what appear to be modified greenhouses.I was at Polhill on Monday (27th) and was concerned at how much space they occupy (under glass) and kept wondering how would I get out in an emergency.
27/04/2009 19:37:00
By debbie holly hoath
Why didnt the alarms go off who was hut when our fire alarms go off in my school we get out in case there is a fire.is everyone ok at ruxley manor garden center.By Debbie Holly Hoath
27/04/2009 14:02:00
let me outBy john J rambo
i was in the garden centre as well, close to the start of it, getting covered in ash and smoke, the staff were confused just as much as everyone else, no alarm bells, no fire wardens, a muffled announcement, gridlock in the carpark, people standing around taking photos, i think th staff need to do more evacuation drills, as do the local traffic police
27/04/2009 10:36:00
No alarmsBy Mandy
I was there when the fire broke out and when the staff evacuated us. Staff were incredible, calm and professional - but I don't remember a single fire alarm going out and there was certainly NO public announcement asking everyone to evacuate. Left to staff to yell to everyone to get out and show the way.
Ruxley are lucky they have the staff they do !
DIYWeek.net does not edit comments which are submitted directly by our users to express their own views. Please report abuse of our comment system here.
© Datateam Business Media Limited 2009. DIY Week.net news articles may be copied
or forwarded for individual use only. No other reproduction or distribution is permitted without prior written consent.
2 comments
