Welding equipment sparked huge blaze in hanger at former RAF base at Manby

A WELDER carrying out work on a bus sparked a huge blaze that destroyed a hangar at a former RAF base.

Flammable material caught fire as the welder worked inside the building at Manby Airfield on Monday, starting a blaze that burned for hours.

DEVASTATION: The remains of the fire-damaged hangar at Manby Airfield.
ON SCENE: Emergency crews attend the scene of the fire at Manby. Picture: Abby Ruston Buy this photo at www.thisisphotosales.co.uk/grimsby or by contacting 08444 060910
UP IN SMOKE: Thick clouds of smoke could be seen for miles around during the fire at the former RAF Manby. This picture above was published on Twitter by Edmund Elvin.

As reported, billows of black smoke could be seen from as far away as Mablethorpe as firefighters in ten fire engines tried to bring it under control.

The hangar, at the former airfield near Louth, is owned by Winchester Marines Ltd, and has suffered severe external and internal damage.

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The building does remain standing, however, thanks to the efforts of firefighters who were still at the scene yesterday afternoon.

Lincolnshire Fire And Rescue Service crews, who were first called at 5.15pm on Monday, eventually left at 1pm yesterday, once they were satisfied the incident was dealt with.

Jason Lawley, deputy divisional commander for the service, said: "An employee was carrying out welding work to a bus inside the hanger when some flammable material caught fire.

Submitted video of an explosion at RAF Manby on Monday evening

"The upholstery inside the bus, such as the seats and other materials, were all highly flammable as well, which caused the fire to spread quickly.

"The amount of heat created also spread to the structural elements of the building.

"The building is still standing but there is severe fire damage within the hanger.

"Apart from the bus, there was also a forklift truck, a number of engines and engineering equipment inside."

Firefighters left the incident in the hands of Winchester Marines Ltd. The Grimsby Telegraph made repeated attempts to contact the firm, but it declined to comment.

Winchester Marine Ltd's website said it works from The Old Grain Stores, in the Middle Gate area of the airfield.

The business trades in diesel engines and spares, powerpacks, water pumps, generators, forklifts, cranes, and ex-MOD, NATO, and Government surplus, as well as marine engines, trailers, trucks, winches, gearboxes and bladder tanks.