A large fire that engulfed a vehicle storage compound on Hamp Bridge Road in Bridgwater has left 38 Skoda cars and a chip van completely destroyed, with the cause of the blaze still unknown. The fire erupted at 11:13 pm on Tuesday, November 11, prompting multiple emergency calls reporting thick black smoke.
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue responded swiftly, dispatching fire crews and calling in four additional fire engines to combat the intense flames. Firefighters utilized water from a nearby canal and deployed ten breathing apparatus units along with a main jet, a foam jet, and three hose reel jets to bring the fire under control.
Despite a thorough investigation, the fire service declared the cause undetermined. A spokesperson stated: “A fire investigation has been completed, and the cause of the fire is undetermined.” Skoda declined to comment on the incident due to the lack of definitive findings.
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Among those affected is Robert Taylor, owner of The Big Chipper van, which was parked next to a metal fence near Taunton Road and was also consumed by the fire. Robert described the devastating impact: “The cars are burnt to a crisp, all the wheels have melted, that shows how intense it was. The front of my engine is burnt out, and the plastic has all melted.”
He added, “There’s no work now, and I have to wait on insurance. We don’t know how long that will take. We’re in limbo; it’s quite a shock.”
The community continues to seek answers as the cause remains a mystery following this significant and destructive incident.