Pictures: Homes evacuated following workshop blaze

Andy Keeble Thursday, February 14, 2013
9:16 AM

Fierce fire engulfs Barnstaple building.

Firefighters battle to contain the fire at Pottington Road, Barnsta[ple, last night (Wednesday). Pic by 72e photography

PEOPLE were evacuated from their homes following a fire at a workshop in Barnstaple last night (Wednesday).

Eyewitnesses described how fierce flames took hold of the building in a matter of minutes after fire broke out at the junction of Pottington Road and Braunton Road, shortly after 10pm.

At its height, four crews battled to contain the blaze, three from Barnstaple and one from Braunton.

They described the 10x4 metre workshop as being ‘heavily involved’ in fire.

Local resident Brian Saunders said: “There was a lot of smoke at first but the fire seemed to take hold in a matter of minutes.

“It was quite fierce for the size of the building.”

The road was closed off and power isolated to neighbouring properties.

Three homes were evacuated due to the risk of flames and heat, and fears that gas cylinders were being stored inside the building.

Residents were eventually able to return to their homes after firefighters confirmed that no cylinders were inside.

Crews were able to contain the fire and were stood down at around 1.30am.

Part of Pottington Road is still closed to traffic this morning due to concerns that the building could collapse.

A crew revisited the scene this morning and used a hose reel jet to cool a hotspot detected. A structural engineer will need examine the stability of the building before the road can reopen.