Ad
Sunday, September 14, 2025
17.5 C
London

The Voice of Scaffolding Since 2008  U.K. Edition

Scaffolders run for their lives after explosion at Stanlow oil refinery

- Advertisement -

Dramatic images show scaffolders running for their lives after a fireball explosion at an oil refinery in Cheshire.

Massive plumes of thick black smoke could be seen for several miles after a large fire broke out at the Stanlow oil refinery on Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters were called to reports of a fire in Oil Site Road, Ellesmere Port at 2.16pm on Wednesday.

Images sent to ScaffMag from inside the oil refinery show the terrifying fireball coming from the SHOP chemical plant area of the refinery site. Bilfinger and Cape pre-shutdown scaffolders on site had been working in the area but were fortunately cabined up when the explosion happened.

Stanlow Fire
Scaffolder running from onsite cabins at Stanlow Refinery

All staff and contractors had been accounted for and evacuated from the affected area.

The Stanlow refinery owned by Essar Oil UK employs more than 900 staff and 500 contractors on site and supplies 16% of all road transport fuels.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service told local media: “Shortly after 2pm today emergency services received reports of a fire within the SHOP chemical plant at the Stanlow site in Ellesmere Port.

“Crews from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service along with onsite firefighters from Essar quickly brought the fire under control and it was fully extinguished within three hours.

“The fire caused a large plume of smoke above the site, which has now dispersed.

“The incident was confined to the manufacturing area of the site and did not affect the refinery. All staff within the affected area were evacuated as a precaution and there were no reports of any injuries.”

Investigations are now underway for what caused the fire.

- Advertisement -
Scaffmag Newsdesk
Scaffmag Newsdeskhttps://www.scaffmag.com
The staff at ScaffMag.com the leading scaffolding site for a digital generation.

Popular Categories

Most Read

Kirtanlal Launches ScaffDeck, A Modular Suspended Access System

Kirtanlal Scaffolding & Formwork has announced the launch of...

Avontus to unveil new ScaffoldIQ app at ScaffEx in Manchester

A new digital tool designed to streamline scaffolding operations...

Leach’s partners with DeWalt to launch tools tailored for scaffolders

Leach’s has announced a new partnership with power tool...

Scaffolding industry set for landmark gathering at ScaffEx25

The scaffolding industry’s only dedicated trade exhibition opens its...

BBC Breakfast broadcasts live from ScaffEx25

BBC Breakfast was on air from Manchester this morning...

Related Articles

Scaffolders take on 50-mile run to help colleague’s baby daughter

Two scaffolders from Northamptonshire are preparing to run an ultra-marathon to raise money for a disabled children’s charity in support of their colleague’s daughter. Contracts Director Ben Ekins and Estimator Jordan Harrison from Midland...
- Advertisements -

Latest Topics

BBC Breakfast broadcasts live from ScaffEx25

BBC Breakfast was on air from Manchester this morning...

Scaffolding reaches Tyne Bridge parapets ahead of repainting works

The Tyne Bridge restoration project has reached a new...

Exclusive: Global scaffolding industry unites with launch of IASA

One of the most significant international developments in the...

Scaffolding industry set for landmark gathering at ScaffEx25

The scaffolding industry’s only dedicated trade exhibition opens its...
- Advertisement -