A COMPANY boss has told how his factory was evacuated after a major fire broke out inside.

Forty firefighters rushed to the scene at the Siva Plastics industrial unit in Southampton, after a printer caused a fire to erupt in a room within the building, and staff were evacuated.

The family-run business create fully-recyclable plastics at the plant in Hazel Road, Woolston.

Director of the Siva Plastics Viji Mehta said: “Damage was caused to one of our printing presses, but none of our fully-recyclable plastics that we produce were affected or burnt.

“The printer will be disposed of and no plastic contaminants were released or burnt while the infrastructure of the building has not been affected.”

The 44-year-old added: “Our team members were evacuated and nobody sustained any injuries.

“We don’t know how it started but an investigation is being carried out.

“It is always a shock as you never expect or plan for these things to happen but when they do, you have got to make sure to have robust measures in place.

“We would like to thank Hampshire fire and rescue service and all its teams for their very prompt response, and our neighbours, because it affects them too.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue said crews were called at 10.10am yesterday.

He added: “The building suffered smoke damage and the printing press was destroyed.

“We used jets, high-pressure appliances, breathing apparatus and foam and we remained on the scene to clear the smoke.”

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