Harbour fire destroys workshops

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The fire started in the early hours of Thursday

Fishermen in Newquay have lost thousands of pounds worth of equipment and fuel after a fire at a disused shop spread to four fishermen's lofts.

Six appliances were called to fight the blaze at South Quay Hill which involved oxygen and propane cylinders.

Twenty-five people were evacuated from nearby homes and fire-hit buildings demolished to make the area safe.

A floating boom was also put across the harbour entrance to contain a diesel spillage as a result of the fire.

Cylinder explosion

The blaze took hold in a disused diving shop in the harbourside buildings at about 2355 BST on Wednesday, before spreading to several fishermen's workshops which contained diesel, gas cylinders and fishing equipment.

Fire crews from Newquay, St Columb, Perranporth, Truro, Bodmin, St Dennis and St Austell were called to the scene.

They had to tackle the fire from a distance for several hours because of the danger of a possible explosion.

People across the town reported hearing a loud explosion, which was later discovered to be an acetyline cylinder.

Unsafe buildings were demolished later in the day

Seven people who were told to leave their homes spent the night at a sports hall. Others went to friends' or relatives' homes before being allowed home on Thursday evening.

Phil Trebilcock of the Newquay Fishermen's Association said the fishermen affected would be "devastated" by the loss of equipment.

Cornwall Council said the buildings had to be demolished immediately following a stability assessment.

The council's pollution control team and officers from the Environment Agency placed the boom across the harbour entrance amid concerns that diesel could affect the seal population outside the harbour.

Police said that there would only be limited access to the harbour area for the next few days.