Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

South Quay Hill, Newquay at 14/05/2009 19:30

Staff from Cornwall Fire Brigade and Cornwall Council’s emergency management and environment services are liaising with the Environment Agency to prevent polluted water from the fire at South Quay Hill in Newquay running into the harbour.

One boom has been erected across the harbour and the Brigade’s environment support vehicle has now been sent from Bodmin Fire Station to provide additional support. This contains specialist equipment such as booms which will be used to prevent the water run off.

There are currently two pumps from St Austell and Newquay and the Command Support vehicle at the scene, in addition to the environment support vehicle and five firefighters.

All seven people who attended the rest centre at Newquay Sports Centre after being evacuated from their homes in the early hours of the morning had left the centre by 8.30 am. Staff from the Council’s emergency management service have taken their contact details in case they are unable to return to their homes this evening.

The Council would like to thanks Simon Barnes and his team for opening up the Sports Centre at 4 am and the WRVS for providing refreshments, including a cooked breakfast, for anyone who required it.

At the height of the incident crews from Newquay, St Columb, Perranporth, Truro, Bodmin, St Dennis and St Austell were at the scene. 20 surrounding properties were evacuated from the area following the discovery that the shop contained cylinders which are potentially explosive.

Crews have now left the scene and returned to their home stations.