Tanker fire on main road from Falmouth to Helston closed the A394 for several hours

Firefighters from both towns, a water carrier from Helston and a special foam unit from Newquay were scrambled

Author: Emma HartPublished 1st Aug 2021
Last updated 2nd Aug 2021

Firefighters from three Cornish towns spent most of the evening battling a tanker fire that closed a main road.

Crews from Helston, Falmouth and a specialist foam unit from Newquay were scrambled to the A394, which is closed in both directions.

Critical control received multiple 999 calls after the blaze broke out at Edgcumbe on Sunday (1st August), with one caller describing it as a 'fully laden petrol tank'.

No injuries have been reported and eyewitnesses have told us there was no-one in the cab shortly after the fire broke out.

Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service said crews were fighting the fire defensively using a monitor and main jet.

"Critical Control received multiple calls reporting a tanker on fire. One caller stated this was a fully laden petrol tank involved in fire.

"Two appliances were immediately mobilised from Helston and Falmouth Community Fire Stations along with a flexi-duty officer.

"On route the Falmouth appliance requested the foam unit to attend from Newquay. This was mobilised with a further supporting appliance.

"A further flexi-duty officer was mobilised. This was followed by a request for a water carrier which was mobilised from Helston.

"At this time crews are fighting the fire defensively using a monitor and main jet".

The fire service later added: UPDATE @ 21:20hrs: "All resources have now left the incident scene. The incident has been handed over to a responsible person".

Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service

Just before 8pm, South West Water tweeted to say firefighters were battling a 'major tanker fire' near Retanna Holiday Park.

They added that the use of a hydrant was causing low pressure and no water in the area.

The A394 remained closed between the junctions for Gweek and the B3297 Falmouth Road until after 10pm on Sunday 1st August, but has since reopened.

You can check the latest incidents affecting journeys in Cornwall here.