firework explosion

[Sags_Deer]

omg i heard that go off yesterday afternoon, thought it was thunder at first and turned out to be the factory going up. Just hope my old trainers horses are okay as well as they are very near to the site. Heart goes out to those families who lost someone.

 

[TGM]

I think we heard the explosion over here as well - although we are a long way away from Lewes. We heard what sounded like a rumble of thunder around 3pm. My thoughts go out to the families of the firefighters that were killed, and also to those of the others who were injured

.

 

[Thistle]

Very sad that 2 firefighters lost their lives. brings back sad memories of the 2 lads that dies during the Stevenage Flats fire. One was friends son.

 

[tamsinkb]

I was out riding on the Downs about 7 miles away - my horse bolted about 30 seconds before the noise reached us - I couldn't work out why until I got back and heard the news - he obviously felt the explosion before we heard it. I feel desperately sorry for all those affected by the accident, especially those who lost loved ones, but also those whose work has been affected. One of my students has just told me her dad worked next door to the factory and his work has been destroyed along with all the families Christmas presents.

 

[happyhack]

Brings back memories of the Bunsefield Oil depot blast last year (12th dec), at least no-one was injured in that one.

my deepest sympathies go out to those who lost friends and relatives in this blast.

 

[Rambo]

We were driving towards Lewes at about 3pm when we saw loads of blue lights tearing off up towards Ringmer. Later in the evening we kept seeing flashes that we thought were lightning...must have been the fireworks still going off.

What a mess

 

[sally2008]

The shockwave from the blast blew in my frenchdoors and we're at Rotherfield, a good few miles away from it.

Such sad news about the firefighters killed and injured. Such brave men - it must be terrifying a senario to deal with when you know that the whole place could explode anytime.

 

[samp]

Heart goes out to the 2 families that lost the brave men, how do you control firework explosions - lethal. I hate fireworks, they shouldbe banned once and for all

 

[Sags_Deer]

yep i totally agree they should be banned apart from proper organised events and thats it. the building was concrete with steel doors so who knows what has caused this. I know someone who is a local fireman who knew both the people that died, it is so rare that they die at an incident nowadays.

 

[Rambo]

[ QUOTE ]
yep i totally agree they should be banned apart from proper organised events and thats it.

[/ QUOTE ]

This wasn't a private supply of fireworks that was being stored in someones garden shed. The company in question are one of the largest importers of fireworks in the country and they were stored in concrete bunkers with reinforced steel doors

 

[Seahorse]

My Dad was in the Wok Inn next door at the time of the explosion, he was halfway through his dinner and the windows blew in and the ceiling collapsed. He said that the 3rd explosion was 50,000 tons of gunpowder blowing up.
He only lives a few hundred yards from there and when he got home everything had fallen off the shelves of his house, he was lucky to get home at all as there was a police road block at the end of his road.
Apparently the worst bit was when debris and big bits of metal were raining down on the road.

I was in Uckfield yesterday and didn't hear anything but the YO heard it loudly and thought that a plane had crashed. Yard is probably only 5 miles from there.

Sad to hear about the 2 fire fighters that lost their lives

 

[Rambo]

Ermmm...I know it was big....but 50,000 tons

Any idea how much that really is

Even 50 tons would be an enormous amount....

 

[Seahorse]

That's what my Dad told me, maybe it wsn't as much as that then, it does seem like an enormous amount now you come to mention it!

 

[Rambo]

LOL! Perhaps he meant 50,000kgs (which would be 50 tons)...

 

[Seahorse]

God knows! its hard to tell, I think he had been in the pub all day

watching sky news because you could see his car on it lol

 

[tw1nn1ejo]

Oh that is awful and terribly sad

My thoughts go out to all of those that lost family and good friends and I hope the horses are ok. R.I.P

xx

 

[brighteyes]

Bl00dy fireworks. I wouldn't care if I never saw another one - ever.

 

[helenandshadow]

Devastating.

One of the firemen who died, his daughter is in my year at my school, my thoughts are with her and her family.

 

[TGM]

That is terrible Helen - what an awful time that family must be going through now

. Several of my daughter's friends' fathers are retained firemen in East Sussex, when I heard the news of the tragedy I was worried that it may have involved one of them. Whilst I was glad to hear they were safe, I was still terribly sad for the families that were involved.

 

[helenandshadow]

I know

also so very sad for the family of the other fireman who died.

my mums OH knows someone who worked there, would have been even worse if it had happened in the week.