Floral tributes left at site of fatal Stafford fireworks factory fire
Businesses have been left counting the cost after a devastating fireworks factory blaze, as floral tributes have been left to the two men killed at the site.
Staffordshire Police are continuing to establish the cause of the explosion which ripped through SP Plastics on Tilcon Avenue, Stafford, killing two men and injuring four on October 30.
The victims were named as Simon Hillier, 41, from Mountside Street in Hednesford who was working at the store and father of three, Stewart Gordon Staples, 57, from Cannock, who was a customer.
Stephanie Horton, managing director of River Canal Rescue went back to the site on Monday to see if any of her company's irreplaceable items could be salvaged.
However the offices, above the warehouse, have been completely destroyed.
She said: "Police opened the road on Monday and we went back but our offices have been completely gutted, we have lost everything. We are now working from our dining room while we work with our insurers and look for a new premises. We had hoped that some of our irreplaceable items that we have spent years collecting could have been saved but sadly there is nothing left at all."
Messages from companies on the industrial unit have been left on the railings outside the destroyed warehouse as families also released tributes.
Police have asked people not to use any fireworks they bought from the factory as they carry out tests that are expected to take several weeks.
The fire is currently being treated as unexplained. Police say it will take 'some time to identify a cause.' and that specially trained officers continue to update the families of those killed on the progress of the investigation.
Although not confirmed, it is believed that commercial fireworks are more likely to pose a risk - they generally have plain wrapping as oppose to retail fireworks which have decorative, colourful wrapping.
Forensic examiners and fire investigators left the site on Monday after what police described as a 'difficult and dangerous examination' of the scene.
Anyone with fireworks from the company is asked to call Staffordshire Police on 01785 232656 and quote incident number 552 of October 30.
