Devastated bosses watched in horror as £100,000 worth of stock was destroyed in a massive fire in Lancashire.
But they risked their lives to salvage two wagons as the fire took hold around them in a Lancashire wood yard.
More than 50 firefighters were called to battle the fire at Steve Humphreys Pallet and Case Makers in Higher Walton, near Preston, where more than 25,000 wooden pallets were stored outside.
But before fire crews arrived, company boss Steve Humphreys managed to drive the firm's two wagons out of the Higher Walton Mill yard, braving the flames.
He said: "I've never seen a bonfire as big as that."
And manager Steve Bamber said: "We felt so helpless.
"It was like an inferno, like something you see on television.
"We were shocked when we saw the devastation and it was so hot it burned all the back of the wagon."
After eight hours at the scene, fire crews managed to stop the fire spreading to the office building where the business has been based for 15 years.
Police and the fire service are now investigating whether the fire was started deliberately.
Mr Humphreys, who employs six staff, said: "Everything has gone. Morale is low. It was a massive shock. We are working to salvage what we can and it's a case of getting up and running."
And Mr Bamber said: "I just felt total shock and devastation.
"You're talking about a lot of money just gone up in flames."
The incident is believed to have started in the centre of the yard shortly after 10pm on Monday and quickly engulfed an area of 100sqm.
Fire engines from Bamber Bridge, Preston, Fulwood, Penwortham, Chorley, Lancaster, Hyndburn and Blackburn were at the scene in Cann Bridge Street overnight. Water was pumped from the nearby River Darwen to extinguish the flames, which could be seen as far as Victoria Road in Walton-le-Dale and New Hall Lane.
Smoke was billowing over the river to bungalows on the other side. Watch manager Graham Knowles, from Bamber Bridge fire station, said: "Someone had set fire to the pallets in the middle. They run right back to the River Darwen."
And Mr Humphreys praised their efforts: "The firefighters struggled for hours to get it under control. They did a very good job and I couldn't fault them."
The company hopes to continue trading.
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