Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Christies Furniture, Commercial Road, Penryn at 18/03/2008 23:48

At just before midnight, Fire Control in Truro received the first of over sixty 999 calls to a major fire, which is now being fought by about eighty firefighters. A range of industrial and commercial buildings, measuring sixty metres by fifteen metres, are involved.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using five jets to extinguish the blaze.

Ten pumping appliances, the aerial ladder platforms from Truro and Newquay, the high volume pump and hose layer from Newquay, the command support vehicle from Truro and the operational support vehicles from Falmouth and St Austell are in attendance. The ten pumps are from Falmouth, Redruth, Truro, Helston, Camborne, St Keverne, Perranporth and Mullion.

UPDATE 0245HRS: The RNLI inshore lifeboat from Falmouth has been requested and is now in attendance to provide safety cover for the firefighters working on the water's edge. Water is being pumped from the Penryn River on the rising tide, to add to the water supplies being pumped from nearby fire hydrants.

UPDATE 0345HRS: The fire is now under control and damping down is in progress. Some of the crews are now returning. An investigation into the cause of the fire is already underway and will continue through the day.

UPDATE 0545HRS: Damping down of the scene is continuing. The aerial ladder platform from Truro, the command support vehicle from Truro, the high volume pump from Newquay and the operational support vehicle from St Austell remain in attendance. A pump from St Austell and a pump from St Dennis are now in attendance relieving crews from Falmouth.

Two people escaped from the burning building soon after fire crews arrived. One of those has been taken to hospital, suffering the effects of smoke inhalation. There are no further details available from the brigade on these people.

Commercial Road, Penryn is currently closed due to this fire. It is expected to remain closed for some time, whilst debris is cleared from the road surface.