Heavy fire in the factory – residents urged to stay indoors – Radio Sweden

It still burns strongly in pole factory Octowood in Kälarne in Jämtland, and local residents are encouraged to avoid the toxic smoke. The rescue services have yet to control the fire, which started this morning at ten o’clock, says Theresa Gustafsson at the emergency services in Jämtland.

– The last progress report we got the location was that the so-called creosote plant where the fire started is completely destroyed, and the focus currently is to prevent the fire spreading to the nearby so-called salt plant. Our current estimation is that it will take another ten hours before the fire is extinguished.

Since this morning it burns the factory Octowood , which produces and impregnates the wood poles, in Jämtland. The fire started in a creosote works, and has since spread to a workshop.

Toxic smoke pours out in Kälarne, which is home to about 500 people, and emergency use foam to extinguish the fire, says Theresa Gustafsson.

– We have about 25 men from four different forces in place to fight the fire. We also urge the public who are there to stay indoors and close windows, doors and ventilation, because of the smoke that the fire generates.

What can you say about the smoke?

– The smoke is like all smoke-toxic and in this case it is creosote involved in the fire, and Creosote is a substance that is both health and environmental hazard. So the fire is not pleasant.

Promise Olsson
lova.olsson@sverigesradio.se