“It takes a while to get a second truck. Our resources are extremely stretched. We had a substantial house fire in the middle of floods as well and we did not have communication at that time.”
The firefighter said an investigator was at the scene today to establish the cause.
James Reed, who lives on the street adjacent to the plant on Chalmers Rd, said he heard banging and explosions.
“I saw everyone was out front and I saw huge fumes coming out of the plant. Fire engines were parked there.
“Police closed off the roads from either end and pushed us far away because of the explosions.
“I took my car and went to my daughter’s, I stayed there until 11pm.”
Reed said he was worried about the fire because the plant was a “pretty old complex”.
“It was quite the fight for the time I saw it; firefighters did a brilliant job.”
Reed said the fire had added to the stress and anxiety many in the city were facing.
“We are stressed enough as it is, now there is even more anxiety.”