Fire flares up again at Kruiningen cold store during damping-down

A fire that broke out on Tuesday at a NewCold cold store in Kruiningen, in the Dutch province of Zeeland, flared up again on Wednesday evening as firefighters were damping it down, the regional safety authority said. The flare-up sent heavy smoke into the air and prompted a larger firefighting response.

Three of the facility’s nine cold-storage cells burned out during the fire on Tuesday evening and overnight. The blaze began in the roof of one cell before spreading inside. Firefighters declared it under control on Tuesday morning but continued damping down, while part of the industrial estate remained closed.

A safety authority spokesperson said smouldering material remained in the roof. Fire crews had to use a crane to remove parts of it before putting them out. The spokesperson said the work brought oxygen to the smouldering material, allowing the fire to flare again.

At least four fire engines and a large-volume water transport were at the scene after the response was stepped up. The fire was burning in a corner that firefighters found difficult to reach, the spokesperson said.