Evacuation was due to cylinder risk
Fire at Tuffnells on Cherry Court Way
A transit van containing a potentially explosive gas canister went up in flames, forcing 10 Leighton businesses to be evacuated.
A transit van containing a potentially explosive gas canister went up in flames, forcing 10 Leighton businesses to be evacuated.
The incident happened outside Tuffnells Parcels Express in Cherrycourt Way on Thursday at 3.15pm, but 17 hours later fire crews were still monitoring the heat from cylinders containing oxyacetylene due to the explosion risk.
Fire crews immediately cordoned off a 200m radius to the fire, evacuated everyone in the vicinity and worked with police and ambulance services to make the area safe.
A witness, Rob McAlister, owner of Umbrella Heaven based in Cherrycourt Way, said: “We were amazed. These things are like a time bomb. The flames took hold and it seemed like half of Bedfordshire’s emergency services turned up. I know a lot of businesses like myself will be affected by costs and problems as a consequence.”
Rob claims that staff from the evacuated premises were left stranded for hours, with no ability to get home because they couldn’t get to their cars.
He said: “Some people had left their keys in their car, so had to make alternative sleeping arrangements and others with medical conditions were affected too. “
The area was eventually declared safe by the Leighton Buzzard fire station commander, Mark Hutchings, at 8am the next day, who said: “We had a lot of complaints from people about the disruption and we apologise for that, but our primary concern is the public and crew’s safety.”
A waterjet hose was positioned for three hours to put out the fire and cool the cylinders before it was safe enough for fire crews to be anywhere near the radius.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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Weather for Leighton Buzzard
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 13 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: East
