Fire at Stornoway sorting office
Posted: Wednesday, 14 November 2007 |
Yesterday morning at 10 am, the fire brigade were called to the Royal Mail sorting office at Sandwick Road in Stornoway. A fire had broken out in the roofspace on the building. Fifteen members of staff were evacuated, but no injuries were reported.
Deliveries of mail were disrupted, as Royal Mail pledged to salvage as much of the remaining mail as possible. Today, no mail will be brought to the island - whether any mail will be taken out has not become clear at time of writing.
Fire engines were recalled to the building at 7pm last night, as the fire had reignited. The building was severely damaged; the above picture shows the two broken windows and two broken skylights which is external evidence of the blaze. It is thought to have been caused by an electrical fault in the roofspace.
Royal Mail is now urgently seeking alternative premises to resume services.
Comments
i am sorry to read about this, but ever so thankful i was my usual dilatory self and had dithered about posting a parcel to the in-laws!
jas from under mia's paw
Arnish, is there any truth in the rumour that there were two fires ...? The first original fire being followed by another as things were switched back on again without having solved the original fault ...? :-)
soaplady from chuckling wellnaturedly
Sorry to read about the fire, but I am glad some mail was salvaged, and will be forwarded, albeit sodden and damaged. But look at the bright side: renovation or rebuilding means work for some locals, and not at the expense of local taxpayers.
mjc from NM,USA
Soaplady, you may well think that, I couldn't possibly comment
Arnish Lighthouse from Not that far from the sorting office
Soaplady, No, there is no truth in that rumour.
John from Islands
thankyou for that information John ... :-)
soaplady from really must stop blethering ...
I have been in Lewis since late 2004 and am observing life on this fascinating island from an outsider's perspective. I look out at the lighthouse every day - as it looks out over the island and the sea. 
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