Investigation underway after large fire at disused Melton factory

A joint investigation is underway following a large fire at a disused factory in Melton last night.

As we reported last night, Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service received a number of calls just after 9pm to reports of a fire in the former Jeld Wen building on Snow Hill.

Firefighters from four counties assisted in tackling the blaze with firefighters leaving the scene around 1:45am on Wednesday morning.

Fire Control received multiple calls to the incident in Snow Hill. Photo: NEMM

Investigators from Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service and Leicestershire Police will now work together on a joint investigation in to the cause of the blaze.

Crews from Melton, Oakham, Birstall, Grantham, Eastern, Loughborough and West Bridgeford all attended the blaze, which could be seen from across the town.

The Aerial Ladder Platform from Central Station in Leicester also attended along with a Water Carrier from Kettering and a Command Support unit from Shepshed.

Crews were back at the scene on Wednesday morning. Photo: NEMM

A spokesperson from Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service said: "We received several calls at 21:05 yesterday evening, to a factory well alight. 

Nine appliances from LFRS attended the incident and two from Grantham and West Bridgeford. Crews used breathing apparatus, hose reel jets and main jets to tackle the fire."

Fire crews returned to the scene on Wednesday morning to check for hotspots in the rubble and will continue to check throughout the day.

Crews returned on Wednesday. Photo: NEMM

Jeld Wen, which manufactured doors, windows, patios and stairs, closed in 2022 as operations were moved elsewhere.

Plans have been submitted to Melton Borough Council to build almost 300 homes on the site.

Leicestershire Police have confirmed that as yet no arrests have been made and an investigation is underway.