Brave employees save firm from financial ruin after blaze

Gurpreet Samrai • Published 7 Jan 2012 09:30

TWO heroic employees put their lives at risk to save a long-standing business hit by disgruntled arsonists.

As exploding gas cylinders stored in trucks fired into the air, brave Chris Carter and Andy Johnson acted fast to drive several vehicles away from billowing flames after Wilson and Scott (Highways) Ltd in Colnbrook was targeted on New Year's Day.

"It looked like someone had dropped a bomb in the yard," said Mr Johnson, 42, who was watching TV in living quarters metres from

the blaze.

"I could see some orange in the corner of my eye so I looked out the window and the trucks were on fire. The window was about eight metres from the fire. I ran to tell Chris and started moving trucks from the yard."

Only five trucks, used for painting lines on roads, were destroyed by the blaze due to the quick actions of the brave men.

Mr Carter, 62, said: "At the time you just go into autopilot and don't think about the danger. It wasn't until we got all the trucks out and got back that we realised what had happened.

"If we had been two minutes later we would have lost everything."

The shock of the incident has only just begun sinking in for the two men, who say they have had trouble sleeping since the fire.

Managing director Stephen Scott said: "These arsonists knew that there were staff on site yet went ahead and endangered their lives in this attempt to put us out of business.

"The bravery of our two employees, Chris Carter and Andy Johnson, has been acknowledged by the whole company. Their prompt actions saved much, including the jobs of all 75 staff."

The cost of damage is estimated at £300,000, but attempts to put the company out of business failed as temporary replacement trucks have been hired and new ones ordered.

Five fire crews from Langley, Slough, Maidenhead and Reading, along with an aerial appliance, attended the scene where propane gas cylinders weighing 25-45kg were exploding.

White watch manager Pete Farmer said: "It was due to the efforts of the crews involved that we were able to save the building and prevent a fire involving all the vehicles."

The incident is being treated as suspected arson. Anyone with information should call the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 101.

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