Illegal vodka theory over Lincolnshire blast which killed five

Firefighters found the men inside the unit after the blast at the Broadfield Lane industrial estate in Boston, Lincolnshire, yesterday evening.

A sixth man was taken to hospital suffering from severe burns.

Teams of emergency workers were scrambled to the 30ft by 15ft unit shortly before 7.30pm after several 999 calls from members of the public.

Firefighters found the casualty outside, but had to cut their way into the unit after intense heat melted its doors.

Police, who last night said five men died in the explosion, would not confirm reports that the explosion occurred because of illegal vodka distilling, but said investigators were keeping an “open mind and following up all relevant lines of inquiry”.

A police spokeswoman said: “There has been all sorts of rumours along those lines. It is far too early for us to speculate.”

She said the sixth man was taken to Boston Pilgrim Hospital with serious injuries, before being transferred to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.

The spokeswoman said inquiries were ongoing and would involved a “full forensic examination of the unit” and finger-tip searches of the cordoned-off unit to establish what was inside.

Ian Nuttall, 42, who lives 200 yards from the scene, said he noticed a commotion and smoke coming from the “lock-up” at about 7.30pm.

He said he did not know anyone who used it, or the other units, or what they used it for, but said: “There was a rumour going round that it was some Polish nationals who have been brewing their own vodka which is a bit of a problem around here at the moment.”

Earlier this year, raids by HM Revenue and Customs, police and Lincolnshire trading standards seized goods including fake vodka from six international stores in the town.

HMRC said forensic testing of the counterfeit alcohol, seized in March, showed it contained chemicals often unsafe for public consumption.

Since then, at least one store has had its alcohol licence revoked by the council, and another has had it suspended.

Police and fire investigators are expected to continue searching the unit today for evidence of the cause of the blaze.

Steve Moore, area manager from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service, described the incident as one of the worst he had seen in his 28-year career.

“It was a really hot, intense fire,” he said.

The officer said the fierce flames set alight a car outside the unit and also buckled its roller shutters, meaning crews were forced to use hydraulic equipment to cut their way into the block.

Mr Moore said six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus searched the unit and found five more casualties.

“As far as the crews I have spoken to, its the single greatest loss of life in fire in their experience,” he said.

Boston Central councillor Peter Bedford said he was shocked by the news.

“I don’t know the cause or even which unit it was in but this is a real shock. We don’t expect that kind of thing to happen in Boston. It’s a small market town, predominantly agricultural.

“There is heavy industry in that industrial estate, there’s a scrapyard, there’s joinery works, it’s a real mix.”

Boston East councillor Mike Gilbert added: “I’m very anxious to find out exactly what’s happened. It’s a lot of people dead and a great tragedy.”