Telephone blamed for fire at Queensferry takeaway

Oct 29 2009 by Dave Goodban, Flintshire Chronicle

Telephone blamed for fire at Queensferry takeaway

A FIRE at a takeaway which almost killed five people was caused by a telephone.

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service says the blaze at the Silver River takeaway, Queensferry, was caused by an electrical fault in a telephone base.

If a passer-by had not raised the alarm the workers trapped inside could have died because there was no smoke detectors fitted, a Flintshire fire chief warned.

The casualties, who are all adults, were asleep in two rooms above the takeaway on Station Road when thick black smoke began billowing upstairs.

They were moved into one room by emergency services and treated with breathing apparatus while firefighters tackled the flames and battled to clear smoke.

Once the building had been evacuated the Chinese occupants, one a 64-year-old man, were treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital for precautionary checks.

Senior officer Kevin Roberts said: “They were extremely lucky. They were asleep at the time and if it had been the middle of the night when there were no people around to see the smoke it could have been different.

“We could easily have been dealing with five deaths.”

Firefighters from Deeside and Buckley were called to the property at 10.05am last Friday and the main road through Queensferry was blocked off until 11.30am.

Onlooker Bill Baten, of nearby Belvedere Close, said: “There was a lot of smoke billowing out. It must have been very frightening if you were trapped.”

Andrew Rees, owner of Station Road taxi firm Q Cars, said: “I was just so relieved when I saw them carrying out the elderly man, who I know as George. The smoke was horrendous, it was belching out.

“They are such nice, hard-working people who have been here for many years. It’s good to know they are all OK.”