Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Pengegan at 29/08/2020 04:15

The Critical Control Centre received a 999 call at 04:15 this morning reporting smoke coming from the roof of a community building. Two appliances were mobilised by Tolvaddon Community Fire Station and a Group Manager from Penzance.

Shortly after arriving crews sent an Assistance Message, "Make Pumps 4 Smoke Issuing". Additional appliances were mobilised from Falmouth and Perranporth Community Fire Stations, as well as an additional Wholetime Station Manager from Bodmin, an Incident Command Unit from St Just Community Fire Station and an Operational Support Unit from Falmouth.

Network Rail were advised of the incident due to the proximity of the Cornish Main Line to the fire, but there was no disruption to trains because of this incident.

At 04.55 a second Assistance Message was sent, "Make Pumps 6". A further two appliances were then mobilised from Truro and Helston Community Fire Stations.

At 05:18 a further Assistance Message was sent, "Make Aerial Ladder Platform 1". An Aerial Ladder Platform was mobilised from Truro.

In summary, there was a significant fire on the first floor. Four Breathing Apparatus wearers were committed for internal firefighting however this was hindered by the intense heat inside. Multiple hose reel jets were used to attack the fire externally through windows. The fire was extinguished by 09:49. The cause was accidental and the fire spread from the point of origin.