Metal Factory Explosion, Ironbridge, May 1951

Metal Factory Explosion, Ironbridge,

May 1951.

 

Soldiers from the ROAC on standby as the Fire Brigade tackles the flames.

On 12^th May 1950, A fire broke out at the Madeley Wood factory of the Ironbridge Metal Company which made aluminium foil. This was quickly followed by a large explosion in the furnace room. The force of the explosion was so large that it collapsed part of the factory, severely damaged the neighbouring Methodist Church manse and shook houses over half a mile away. The bales of foil burned fiercely hindering rescue work.

The manager, Mr. Ferdinand Frankel and another employee, Mrs. Kate Healey were killed instantly. Seven of the firemen who were on site fighting the original fire were badly hurt in the blast as were three other factory workers. All were taken to nearby hospitals.

Soldiers from the RAOC depot at Donnington assisted with the search through the rubble. Council employees lead by Mr. T Lockley, Shropshire’s first Civil Defence Corps Rescue Instructor began stabilising parts of the building but had to stop as it was still too dangerous. The newspaper article also refers to help from civilians, some of which were probably CDC Rescue Section. [It must be noted that at this point, some 16 months after the first recruitment of Corps members, much of the initial training and set up was still being carried out].

The fire continued to burn in various parts of the building for three days, leaving it as a gutted shell.

 

A Disaster fund was set up after the incident, by the Mayor of Wenlock, to provide support to the seven injured firemen and their families with two of the firemen still in hospital weeks later. He praised the work of all those who had helped during the incident including the Fire Service, the Police and the Civil Defence Corps. About 18 months later, the courts gave the injured men a compensation award from the Ironbridge Metal Company.

 

SOURCES:

(1) Civil Defence Volunteers Pocket Book, printed by the Middlesex Division, 1962

(2) Wellington Journal - Saturday 20 May 1950. British Newspaper Archive

(3)  Wellington Journal - Saturday 03 June 1950. British Newspaper Archive

(4) Birmingham Daily Post - Thursday 06 July 1950. British Newspaper Archive