Rye Harbour Firm Helps Fire Devastated CPW
Rod Chapman, Director of Atlas Industrial Park and Rastrum came to the rescue of fire stricken Country Pine Warehouses (CPW) in Rye Harbour Road, which was completely gutted at the beginning of July.
The 160,000 sq ft building blazed from end to end and despite the efforts of Rye Fire Service and 150 firefighters from East and West Sussex and Kent, very little was saved. The fire was discovered at 5.30am, when two members of staff turned up at work to find a spray room full of smoke. Two Rye Firefighters entered the building wearing breathing apparatus but their efforts were of no avail and they had to beat a hasty reatreat as the blaze turned into a fireball.
Thanks to Rod Chapman, who made a large warehouse and office space immediately available, staff were back at work five days later. CPW boss Mike Hodgson has vowed the company will be back on its feet within weeks and fully operational again by early October.
Despite the main building being completely gutted firefighters had saved two workshops on the site. These were in use again immediately. Staff had saved vital business materials from the office as the blaze took hold and the twelve strong vehicle fleet all survived.
CPW director Mike Hodgson thanked the fire and rescue services “We would like to express sincere thanks and gratitude to all of the emergency services, but especially to the fire and rescue services, for all their valiant efforts to save our premises from the terrible fire that engulfed it. Whilst we are all devastated at the loss we have suffered, we will be eternally thankful that there was no loss of life or serious injury to anyone involved.”
“Rye’s Own” was dismayed to see the terrible damage done to such a well fitted out local business, we send our best wishes to Mike Hodgeson and his hard working team and hope to see CPW re-established as swiftly as Rye Country Stores who suffered in a similar fashion a few years back.