Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Lewannick, Launceston at 28/08/2022 00:04

At 0004hrs our Critical Control Centre took multiple calls reporting a fire in the Lewannick area. Due to the number of calls and reports of it being a large building crews from Launceston and Callington were immediately mobilised alongside a wholetime officer.

Whilst en route to incident, the incident commander from Launceston requested two further appliances. These were mobilised from Bodmin. Our Critical Control Centre assess the area in which the incident was and took the decision to mobilise a water carrier from Liskeard to support the incident.

At 0030hrs the incident commander reported a 100m x 50m barn which was well alight. A request for two additional appliances was made and these were mobilised from Okehampton and Delabole.

Additional supporting appliances from Launceston (Incident Command Unit), St Mawes (Welfare Unit) and St Austell (Operational Support Vehicle) are also in attendance.

** Update @ 0545hrs **
The incident is still ongoing however scaling back to three appliances. The fire involves a large amount of baled straw and will burn for some time. The fire can still be seen from the A30 Launceston and Polyphant.

** Update @ 0745hrs **
Appliances from St Dennis, Fowey and Looe along with a water carrier from Wadebridge remain in attendance. The fire is still very visible from the A30 but rest assured we are on scene and dealing with this incident.

** Update @ 01300hrs **
Appliances from Bodmin, Launceston and Callington along with a water carrier from Wadebridge remain on scene at this time.

** Update @ 01530hrs **
Appliances from Launceston and Callington along with a water carrier from Wadebridge remain on scene at this time. Steady progress is being made. Three main jets are in use to prevent further escalation.

Update: 20:45 Sunday 28th August.

Two fire appliances and the Water Carrier are still in attendance at the barn and will remain so overnight. Good progress being made, however the fire is still visible from the main roads surrounding it and critical Control are still receiving multiple repeat calls for this incident.

Update: 06:30 29th August
One appliance is remaining on scene monitoring hotspots, a fire investigation will take place today when its safe to do so.

Update 1200 hours: Crews from St. Columb and Bodmin are in attendance, the farmer is assisting with the crews to remove smouldering hay using a tractor and water bowser to damp down, Cornwall Fire and Rescue crews are using a main jet to extinguish the fire and prevent smoke affecting the nearby A30. A Fire Investigation is underway.

Update 1700 hours: Relief crews from Callington and St. Dennis are now in attendance, the crews are continuing, with the farmers help, to remove smouldering hay and damp down and monitor hot spots.