VIDEO: Investigation to be held into cause of Easter weekend 'firework' explosion in Westbrook
An investigation will be held into the cause of a large fire near Newbury over the bank holiday weekend.
A cloud of smoke filled the sky following an explosion at an industrial building in Westbrook on Saturday (April 16).
The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) was called to the scene at 1.41pm and found a fire that involved “possible pyrotechnics and fireworks” which it then brought under control.
By 3pm that day, National Highways announced that the M4 had been closed in both directions, between Junction 13 at Chieveley and Junction 14 at Hungerford, due to debris on the carriageway.
Fire crews from Newbury, Theale and two fire officers rushed to the scene, together with crews from as far afield as Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Cordons were put in place and people were urged to stay away from the area while emergency services dealt with the blaze.
By Saturday evening, the RBFRS said that no casualties had been reported and the affected stretch of the M4 had been reopened.
Firefighting operations were eventually scaled back around 8pm, but a cordon remained in place at the site.
One West Berkshire resident, who asked not to be named, witnessed the explosion while in a nearby play park in Boxford with her seven-year-old son.
She said she thought the sound could have come from a bomb or a plane crash and called the police and fire service immediately.
"I rang them two seconds after it exploded, I thought it was a bomb,” she said.
"They said that they were looking for it.
"The police were asking if it was still exploding but at that point it was not.
"It then started exploding more, it was quite scary."
The mother-of-two added: “It was all quite crazy. My son came running to me.”
Passers-by who also witnessed the explosion sent the Newbury Today their pictures and videos as the plume of smoke continued to fill the sky.
The next morning, Easter Sunday, the cordon was reduced, but fire crews remained on the scene.
Newbury Fire Station manager Phil Knight said at the time: “The incident is still being monitored by Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
“There is still a presence [at Westbrook Farm Cottages] with the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service working together with Thames Valley Police.”
In its most recent update, given on Tuesday (April 19), a spokesperson for the RBFRS said: “Due to the nature of the incident, we are working alongside our partners to resolve it safely.
“At this time, our crews are maintaining a presence at the site, with a watching brief to ensure scene safety.
“The cause of the fire will be subject to a fire investigation, which will be completed alongside our partners.”
A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: "Officers are still currently at the scene to support partner agency investigation and for public safety."
