A FACTORY in Melksham was evacuated after a cleaning chemical caught fire.
The blaze started in a vat of trichloroethylene at Stellram Ltd, Bowerhill, and the area was cordoned off for two hours. Ten people had to be treated for chemical vapour inhalation.
Firefighters from Melksham, Trowbridge and a specialist appliance from Warminster attended the incident on Friday, December 7.
Neil Hiscock, temporary sub officer at Trowbridge fire station, said: "Staff had already extinguished the blaze before our arrival by putting a lid on the vat, but we went in wearing breathing apparatus to ventilate the area.
"When it's on fire it gives out a poisonous gas that can be life threatening in large amounts."
Trichloroethylene is a de-greasing solvent used to clean metal equipment and is not thought to be highly flammable. Arson has been ruled out, but the cause of the fire is still unknown.
Stellram Ltd declined to comment, but the Health and Safety Executive has asked them for more information about the blaze and may carry out a full investigation.
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