STAFF from Karalius Brothers (Waste) Ltd have been commended by fire crews after they assisted in putting out a blaze at the family business.

As reported in last week’s World, firefighters were called to Dennis Road after neighbours spotted a smoke coming from the site on June 24. Staff used machines to dismantle the burning stock piles and help Cheshire Fire Service combat the blaze more rapidly.

And firefighters told staff they would still be fighting the fire today had it not been for the efforts of the machine drivers.

Frank Karalius, one of the machine drivers, worked with fire crews throughout the night until the site was handed back at noon on June 25.

He continued to work with the fire crews at the height of the fire when flames were shooting more than 50 feet into the air.

In response to being called a hero, Frank Karalius said: “All credit should go to the fire crews who on a daily basis put the lives of others before their own receiving little or no recognition for it either.”

Police are treating the fire as arson and are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Fiddlers Ferry Road and Tanhouse Lane Widnes between 6.45pm and 7.30pm on June 24 and saw anything suspicious to call Runcorn or Widnes CID.