THE British Red Cross has thanked its volunteers for their support to evacuated residents following a rocket factory fire in Summerfield.

A team of ten emergency response volunteers and staff responded quickly to a request from Worcestershire County Council to staff a rest centre following Friday’s fire at Roxel in Summerfield Lane.

The site was evacuated as well as a number of residential properties within the 600m exclusion zone set up around the factory after emergency services were called to a blaze at 8.30am.

Roads were re-opened and residents returned to their homes at about 4pm that day.

The rest centre at Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre, opened at 11am to accommodate people who had been evacuated.

Jeremy Voaden, emergency response and recovery senior service manager, who managed the Red Cross’s response, said: “Our volunteers are highly trained and have practised many times to response to such incidents.

“We worked closely with the county council to make sure members of the public had a safe and comfortable place to stay while the fire service controlled the blaze.

“We provided residents with practical items such as food and drinks while they waited. Experience taught us people evacuated from their homes often feel anxious and upset so our volunteers were also on hand to offer emotional support to those who needed it.

“Our fire and emergency support service volunteers also provided food and drinks to responders at the scene of the incident. I’d like to thank all our volunteers for the great job they did in supporting local people when they really needed them.”

Meanwhile, a statement on Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s site said its operational plans were well rehearsed with an exercise taking place that week.

“On-site safety procedures ensure this incident was dealt with quickly and in a highly professional manner with very little risk to the public,” it added.

No injuries were reported.