Explosion on mushroom farm

Published 3 Aug 2010 13:00

AN explosion and fire on a mushroom farm on Sunday meant villagers had to be evacuated.

A huge plume of smoke could be seen over Fifield after a gas cylinder exploded setting fire to a Polytunnel and surrounding grassland at 3pm.

Firefighters raced to the farm, off Fifield Road, and were there into the evening. Police, who feared further explosions, evacuated residents behind a 200m safety cordon and a firefighting robot was called in to help tackle the blaze.

A spokesman from Maidenhead firestation said an acetylene cylinder caused the explosion.

A 31-year-old woman, who lives near the farm, said: "I'd just got home. I was in the kitchen, my grandmother was in the garden and we heard this massive explosion and we saw this massive smoke cloud billowing up.

"We went to have a look. As we were stood there, we saw a second explosion - we saw flames shooting up, they must have been 10m high, and this huge white column of smoke."

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This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 03 Aug 10

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