06 Dec 2011
A chemical fire which broke out on Tuesday morning in a boatyard in Cornwall is said to be “under control.”
Cornwall Fire and Rescue said five crews of firefighters have been sent out to the scene of the incident at Islington Wharf in Penryn near Falmouth.
According to reports by BBC Cornwall, drums of phosgene could be caught up in the fire which started at around 6am on Tuesday morning. Phosgene is a fertiliser which was used for chemical warfare in World War One.
Devon and Cornwall Police have cordoned off the wharf and the nearby area has been evacuated. They have also closed Commercial Road, Penryn’s main road, and nearby Church Hill.
The fire was later reported to be under control.
A spokeswoman confirmed that chemicals in gas cylinders were involved in the blaze.
She added: “The fire is now under control, a 100m cordon has been set up in the boatyard because of the gas cylinders.”
Copyright Press Association 2011