Fire destroys former reefer shed

Contractors decommissioning the former reefer store for bananas, on berth 2, were removing polystyrene blocks from the building at the time when the fire broke out.

The fire damage was limited to one warehouse but there was also some water damage to an adjacent paper storage warehouse on berth 2.

Gary Parkinson, managing director of Peel Ports Medway, praised the Kent Fire and Rescue Service and tug operators Svitzer for their swift reaction to what was ‘potentially a very hazardous blaze’.

“Thanks to their efforts, we were able to bring the fire under control in less than two hours,” he said. “The fire damage was confined to one warehouse and the port is now fully operational again.”