Tesco Glastonbury retailer ‘evacuated’ over main blaze with ‘excessive danger of fireplace spreading’
The Tesco branch on Wirral Park Road in Glastonbury was evacuated and shut down while damage was assessed after a major fire broke out at two caravans parked nearby
A major supermarket branch was forced to evacuate and close after a major blaze was sparked close to the store over fears it could spread.
The incident occurred at the Tesco store in Glastonbury on Saturday (June 13) evening after a fire broke out involving two caravans. According to the fire service, the caravans were close to the store ‘with a high risk of the fire spreading to it’.
In a post on its Facebook page at around 9.10pm, the supermarket on Wirral Park Road issued a message to customers, reports, SomersetLive. The supermarket said the store would be closed for the time being as they assess any damage and customers should avoid the area.
The post read: “Please avoid Tesco Glastonbury for the time being whilst we assess the damage caused by a fire. I will re-post when open, many thanks.”
In further updates, the store said: “We are definitely closed for the rest of the evening… We will reopen tomorrow as usual – 9.30am for browsing, 10am for purchasing. Thanks for your patience.”
Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue have also issued a statement with the cause of the blaze believed to have been deliberate. The caravans were completely destroyed and the store suffering some external fire damage. However, thankfully no one injured.
According to the full report from Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, the fire occurred at around 8.07pm. The fire service said: “Two fire appliances from Glastonbury and Street were initially mobilised to multiple calls reporting a caravan on fire at Tesco supermarket, Wirral Park Road in Glastonbury.
“Whilst en-route they requested a third fire appliance, mobilised from Wells, after seeing a large plume of smoke. Crews were on scene within minutes and immediately increased the attendance by a further two fire appliances, mobilised from Somerton and Shepton Mallet, together with an aerial ladder platform, from Bridgwater, after they confirmed two caravans were on fire in close proximity to the store and with a high risk of the fire spreading to it.
“Due to the quick response of fire crews and immediate increase in resources once on scene, crews were able to bring the fire under control and prevent it from extensively spreading to the store, which had been evacuated by staff.
“At 1.40am the incident was brought under control and the fire extinguished. Two caravans were completely destroyed, with the store sustaining 10 per cent external fire damage only. The fire, which was started deliberately, was extinguished using two breathing apparatus, three hose reel jets, two main jets, one covering jet assisted by the aerial ladder platform, together with ladders and fogging spikes (which penetrate walls with voids).
“Thermal imaging cameras were used to check for fire spread and hotspots, whilst positive pressure ventilation fans were used to clear the store of smoke. Luckily there no casualties and once the caravans and scene was made safe the incident was left in the hands of store staff and the police. These are the full and final details.”
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