Vehicle fire

2 fire appliances from Ottery St Mary and Danes Castle (Exeter), together with a water carrier, from Danes Castle, were mobilised this morning to the B3174, Exeter Road, Ottery St Mary, after a lorry had a minor RTC hitting a tree but caught fire as a result. Luckily no persons were trapped or injured and crews were soon on scene. 

At 0852hrs the attendance was increased by a further 2 fire appliances, mobilised from Honiton and Danes Castle, for personnel and water supplies. 

Update at 1430hrs - This incident is still ongoing, due to the position and type of vehicle. This is a refrigerated lorry, carrying food goods, which came to rest in a ditch and was well alight on our arrival. Crews made good and steady progress bringing the fire under control, but the recovery of the load from the lorry, and of the vehicle itself, is taking time. We will not leave the scene until we are satisfied that there are no more hotspots and the vehicle and scene can be made safe. Police and highways attended to carry out traffic duties and assess damage to the road surface and its surroundings. 

Fire crews left the scene just before 1530hrs - the HGC was 100% destroyed by fire following the incident. Approximately 20m of hedgerow was also destroyed by fire. There were 12 breathing apparatus sets, 2 foam jets, 2 hose reel jets and 2 main jets used to extinguish the fires. Hydraulic spreaders, a triple extension ladder, thermal imaging camera and small tools were also used to assist with the incident. The incident was left in the hands of the highways agency and recovery company.