Owner's distress after Bloxwich factory blaze
[gallery] The owner of a factory which went up in flames today said his retirement had "gone up in smoke".
Thirty firefighters tackled the huge blaze yesterday at the storage unit in Willenhall Lane, Bloxwich, owned by businessman David Jones.
The 67-year-old, who is just months away from retirement, said he was shocked when he got the call to say the building was up in flames and rushed to the scene.
"I had been there in the morning to take some planks there for storage. We set the alarm as usual and I had only just got home and was about to take a sip of my soup when I got the call at about 11am to say it was on fire," he said.
Inside was furniture he had stored for two of his clients.
"I suppose luckily I had been winding the business down as I am going to retire soon. I was going to hire the building out and use that as my retirement fund, but it looks like that plan may have gone up in smoke.
"I have paid for insurance all these years so I am hoping I am able to re-build it," said Mr Jones of Coalpool Lane, Walsall. Mr Jones said he had run the business, Dean F Jones Removals and Storage, for the past 30 years.
Business along the road were affected as the power had to be switched off for a number of hours. No-one was in the building but nearby parked cars were asked to be removed and residents were told to keep windows closed.
Eyewitness Sally Cooper described the dramatic moments the building went up in flames.
"I was looking out my kitchen window and saw some smoke then the next moment there was an explosion," she said.
"I called the fire brigade and when I was on the phone to them, the whole lot just went up."
The 51-year-old, who saw it unfold from her nearby home said:?"I was just worried it would spread to other buildings, my house is only one building away from it."
Fire crews from Walsall, Willenhall, West Bromwich and Bloxwich were called to the brick building at around midday.
Bloxwich Fire Station Commander John Kempson said the roof was made of a cement asbestos and part of it had collapsed by the time they arrived.
The fire is being treated as suspected arson.
