Postal staff evacuated after fire

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7719392.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7719907.stm <-Video Report (No Sound)

Fire.jpg

About 150 staff have been evacuated after a fire broke out at the Royal Mail sorting office in Cardiff.

Police said the fire was contained in an area at the back of the Penarth Road building, well away from the road.

It is believed the fire started in a loading bay and some vans parked there were damaged. No-one was injured.

Royal Mail warned there will be some disruption to postal services. Customers wanting to collect mail or parcels are asked to stay away.

The fire broke out at about 0845 GMT on Monday.

Paul Kelly, Royal Mail general manager, said: "It started in a tray with equipment which was outside. There were some vans parked in that loading bay which we believe have been damaged."

All 150 staff at the depot have been sent home for the rest of the day, he said.


There will be local collections in Cardiff as normal but we will probably bring forward the time of the last collection
Royal Mail general manager Paul Kelly


Mr Kelly added: "There will be no deliveries in the residential areas today. Most of our business mail has already gone out.

"We'll be starting our contingency plan now."

He said they were in touch with their Swansea office and would be contacting colleagues at Bristol and Gloucester for assistance.

Mr Kelly added: "There will be local collections in Cardiff as normal but we will probably bring forward the time of the last collection."

Postman Chris Williams was on his way into work when he spotted a "huge plume of grey smoke" coming from the building.


The fire broke out at about 0845 GMT (Picture from postman Matt Henwood)

He said he and many others were in a shelter on the other side of the building from where the fire had broken out.

He said he could not see any flames, but had heard the fire engines arrive.

Another postman Matt Henwood said: "At the moment, nobody knows what started the fire.

"It was about 8.30am when we got thrown out of the building," he added.

Royal Mail said customers in the CF10, CF11 and small parts of CDF23 and CF24 postal areas will have their mail delivered as soon as post men are able to get into the building again.

Staff will stay on beyond their normal working hours to make sure any backlogs are cleared.

It is not yet know what have been damaged in the fire as staff cannot get in to assess the situation.

However, a spokesman said most of the mail would either already have been sent out to be delivered or is in a separate room.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales ... -22219078/

THOUSANDS of homes will be without mail today after a fire at the Royal Mail sorting office caused Cardiff’s postal service to grind to a halt.

Firefighters were called to the centre on Penarth Road at 8.50am, after the blaze broke out outside the depot’s main building, in a loading bay near the delivery office.

Four fire engines attended the scene and two water bowsers were used to bring the fire under control.

Some vans parked nearby were damaged but no one was injured.

All 150 workers at the depot have been evacuated and offices in Swansea, Bristol and Gloucester have been asked for assistance.



Royal Mail said customers in the CF10, CF11 and small parts of CDF23 and CF24 postal areas will have their mail delivered as soon as post men are able to get into the building again. Business mail is thought to be unaffected.

Collections will still take place but with an earlier final posting time of between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

Customers wanting to collect mail or parcels are asked to stay away.

Paul Kelly, general manager for south and west Wales, said: "We’ve had a major fire here at the sorting office this morning.

"The fire was detected just after 8.50am. Fire services were called and attended to the fire, which was in the building. It was a major incident which we are still trying to bring under control.

"Services will be disrupted this morning. We will not be delivering any post around Cardiff this morning."

A spokeswoman for South Wales Fire and Rescue said: "We received a call at 8.47am reporting a rubbish fire, which was later found to be a building fire. Four fire engines and two water bowsers have been sent to the scene."

[fed_up_postie]

im a postman from the cf area and was watching the welsh news earlier when they reported this and they said ' the fire started around 8:30am and as most postal workers were returning from their rounds about 8:45-9:00am they were faced with the sorting office well ablaze' have we started to deliver mail at that time of morning cos i know i don't im normally have some breakfast waiting for the last missort run!!

[fatherchristmas]

we not allowed to leave the office till 10:15

[BELIAL]

Even if it's on fire?

[dvbuk55]

Even if it's on fire?

Well B that would only work for one day - so put the matches away.

[DGP1]

I don't see why any mail was delayed surely if the managers just opened the doors for a few minutes then it could clear out the smoke and the fire could help keep the warm . But I suppose the management will just flex everybody up tomorrow

[axeman]

Now n***** tell me super centres are the way to go small scale disruption.............. would be tenfold if it was a royal fail super duper centre would it not ?

was that the paul kelly who spoke on that infamous conference call leaked out during the strikes ? looks quite miserable loosing some of his bonus i guess

[Lounge Lizard]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7719392.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7719907.stm <-Video Report (No Sound)

Fire.jpg

About 150 staff have been evacuated after a fire broke out at the Royal Mail sorting office in Cardiff.

Police said the fire was contained in an area at the back of the Penarth Road building, well away from the road.

It is believed the fire started in a loading bay and some vans parked there were damaged. No-one was injured.

Royal Mail warned there will be some disruption to postal services. Customers wanting to collect mail or parcels are asked to stay away.

The fire broke out at about 0845 GMT on Monday.

Paul Kelly, Royal Mail general manager, said: "It started in a tray with equipment which was outside. There were some vans parked in that loading bay which we believe have been damaged."

All 150 staff at the depot have been sent home for the rest of the day, he said.


There will be local collections in Cardiff as normal but we will probably bring forward the time of the last collection
Royal Mail general manager Paul Kelly


Mr Kelly added: "There will be no deliveries in the residential areas today. Most of our business mail has already gone out.

"We'll be starting our contingency plan now."

He said they were in touch with their Swansea office and would be contacting colleagues at Bristol and Gloucester for assistance.

Mr Kelly added: "There will be local collections in Cardiff as normal but we will probably bring forward the time of the last collection."

Postman Chris Williams was on his way into work when he spotted a "huge plume of grey smoke" coming from the building.


The fire broke out at about 0845 GMT (Picture from postman Matt Henwood)

He said he and many others were in a shelter on the other side of the building from where the fire had broken out.

He said he could not see any flames, but had heard the fire engines arrive.

Another postman Matt Henwood said: "At the moment, nobody knows what started the fire.

"It was about 8.30am when we got thrown out of the building," he added.

Royal Mail said customers in the CF10, CF11 and small parts of CDF23 and CF24 postal areas will have their mail delivered as soon as post men are able to get into the building again.

Staff will stay on beyond their normal working hours to make sure any backlogs are cleared.

It is not yet know what have been damaged in the fire as staff cannot get in to assess the situation.

However, a spokesman said most of the mail would either already have been sent out to be delivered or is in a separate room.

From the photograph it looks as if 'Royal Mail Manager Paul Kelly' lost his sandwiches in the fire.

[baldrick]

Or had to miss his coffee break.

[andy2007]

Is it just me, or is everyone standing much too close to all those vehicles?
If the fuel tanks start to explode, they could be hit by debris, couldn't they?

[NWpostie]

Staff are staying beyond their working hours to clear the backlog, thats a goodwill and a half, I would imagine in other offices, where they have been royally screwed by managment, they probably would have said "stuff it I am going home", no goodwill from me etc etc

[axeman]

Probabaly meant managers and sca** ?......... no self respecting person would give them a handout after all they care jack shi* about you stuff your flexi !!!!!