Date: 28th August, 2017
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to Wellington House, a block of flats on Wellington Street, Swindon, at 10.08pm last night (27 August) after a resident reported an acrid smell that could be smoke.
Initially one crew from Swindon fire station attended and started an investigation of the building, using both air monitoring equipment and a thermal imaging camera.
Due to the strength of the smell, and the fact that some residents of the block were experienci…ng a stinging in their eyes and coughing, support from South Western Ambulance Service was requested and two additional fire crews from Stratton were also mobilised to speed up the investigation and search.
With the help of Wiltshire Police and Swindon Borough Council, the block was subsequently evacuated as a precaution and affected residents relocated to the Civic Offices.
Following a thorough investigation of the whole building, no cause for the smell was identified. A multi-agency discussion this morning (28 August) concluded that it was therefore safe for residents to return home. They have been advised to call the fire and rescue service on 999 should the smell reoccur.