George White Junior School is shut down due to a fire in a shuttered shoe factory.
A elementary school has been forced to close due to a major fire at an abandoned shoe factory that contained asbestos.
At approximately 17:40 GMT on Monday, workers from over a dozen stations were dispatched to respond to the fire
at the former Van-Dal shoe factory located on Dibden Road in Norwich.
According to Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service station manager Ryon Martin, the fire took three to four hours to
contain and destroyed up to 75% of the structure.
Silver Road’s George White Junior School declared its closure as a precaution.
According to Norwich City Council, the facility has asbestos, and as a result, examinations were being set up.
Initial air quality tests revealed “no significant levels of asbestos present in the air” on Tuesday night, assuring locals
that the risk to their health was minimal.
“To ensure the site is as safe as possible, work is ongoing this evening and is likely include some partial demolition,”
said a spokesperson.
Rest assured that we are collaborating closely with the site owners to make sure that all work is done in accordance
with stringent safety regulations and that precautions are taken to reduce dust and noise.
“Specialist asbestos operatives are on-site to handle any materials safely.”
Residents within 80m (87yds) were still being asked to avoid the site entirely, keep windows and doors closed and avoid handling ash and debris.
Further air and ground tests will take place on Wednesday.
“It’s terrible,” said 53-year-old Sarah Barker, who witnessed the fire while travelling home. At first, I believed it to be
a horrible car accident.
“You could see smoke billowing out all over the place – it just looked awful.”
Driving along on Monday night, 45-year-old Leigh Mitchinson reported: “We noticed a massive orange cloud behind
the buildings.
“At first, I couldn’t believe it was fire, but as soon as we passed the George White School road, we could barely make
out the school.
“I’ve never seen such a big fire.”
The Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said the flames were put out in the early hours of the morning.
Crews from Sprowston, Carrow, Earlham, Hethersett, Wroxham, Long Stratton, Acle, Reepham, Dereham, Great
Yarmouth, Loddon, Wymondham, Fakenham, North Walsham, Attleborough, Stalham and Watton attended.
About ten appliances had been there, according to Mr. Martin, but they were currently attempting to
secure the area.
He stated: “The damage is quite significant across the whole property – about 70 to 75% of the property
has been damaged.”
He said that nearby properties were unharmed.
Firefighters attended a blaze at the same area last April.
In 2018, it was revealed that the last shoe manufacturer in Norwich would be closing.
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