Exmouth garage fire - latest picture shows extent of damage
THIS picture shows the devastation caused by the inferno which 24-hours ago ripped through Exmouth's R and R Motors, resulting in hundreds of people being evacuated from their homes.
THIS picture shows the devastation caused by the inferno which 24-hours ago ripped through Exmouth's R and R Motors, resulting in hundreds of people being evacuated from their homes.
The drama unfolded on Friday lunchtime when a fire broke out at the Victoria Way garage - nearby homes were evacuated and the area was cordoned off when the acetylene and gas cylinders inside the garage began exploding in the extreme heat.
Eight fire crews battled through Friday afternoon to tackle the raging blaze, eventually bringing the fire under control by around 4pm.
Muffled bangs could be heard coming from the garage each time a cylinder exploded.
Fire crews kept watch throughout the night, training water on the remaining cylinders in a bid to stop any further explosions.
The last acetylene cylinder was removed this morning by specialists, allowing police crime and fire investigation officers to visit the site to begin sifting through the debris.
Most Read
- 1 Angry passenger keyed a car in disabled parking dispute
- 2 Budleigh vineyard wins gold at inaugural wine competition
- 3 Exmouth business create leggings to raise funds for Hospiscare
- 4 Lympstone Marine trainer halfway through THREE ultra marathon challenge
- 5 Floral boat dedicated to Budleigh fisherman Digger Rogers
- 6 Season-ticket purchase period extended at Exmouth Town
- 7 Budleigh joins scheme to put East Devon on green tourism map
- 8 Monty creates Jubilee figure for his last East Budleigh Scarecrow Festival
- 9 Mental wellbeing tour comes to Exmouth church
- 10 Measures agreed to speed up ambulance response times
The building was earlier visited by a local authority inspector, who gave the go ahead for the clean-up campaign to begin.
Victoria Way remained closed to the public while this was carried out, but the area was reopened by around 3pm.
Yesterday's fire brought the town to a standstill as large plumes of black acrid smoke poured from the stricken garage.
No one was injured in the blaze.
For the full story and photographs see Thursday's Journal