ENGINEERS were today starting to assess the damage after a blaze at Sizewell B power station.

Six fire crews and two support units well called to the power site at 8.44pm last night after receiving reports that a fire had broken out in a charcoal bed of an extractor plant.

On arrival the blaze was found at the 21-metre level of the second floor of the fuel building.

Wearing two sets of breathing apparatus, firefighters from the Sizewell firefighting team gained access to the charcoal bed to carry out thermal imaging and assessment. Fire crews remained at the scene until shortly after 3.30am.

Jim Crawford, station director, said: “The fire has been safely extinguished and the emergency services have left site. We would like to thank all those involved for their swift response.”

“At no time was there any risk to the public and all staff were safely accounted for and nobody has been hurt.

“Our community liaison officer has proactively been in touch with our contacts in the community to reassure them that the incident was safely managed in line with our well rehearsed emergency plans.”

Engineers were today starting to assess the extent of the damage but the EDF spokeswoman said the fire would not delay the power station’s return to action.

It is currently off-line and undergoing repairs – the company hopes to have it back in operation by September at the latests.

The spokeswoman said: “This fire was unrelated to the maintenance work. It was confined to a two-metre cubed box.

“There is an automatic response of six appliances if there is an incident like this on the site but the firefighters were there in a support role to our staff.”

There was no radioactive leak as a result of the fire, she added.