Firefighters in Chard, Somerset, were praised for their prompt and effective response in containing a fire that broke out in a workshop storing motorbikes and a charging lithium-ion battery pack late on Friday, July 4. Multiple emergency calls alerted crews to the blaze in the Halcombe area on the southern edge of town around 7:14 pm.
Chard firefighters were the first to arrive and immediately called for support while working tirelessly to stop the fire from spreading to adjacent houses and vehicles. Reinforcements from Ilminster and Axminster joined the operation, with Axminster crews commending Chard’s initial efforts that prevented the fire from escalating rapidly.
“Thanks to the quick intervention by Chard’s team, we avoided the fire spreading to nearby homes, cars, and fencing,” said a spokesperson from Axminster Fire Station. The presence of a lithium-ion battery pack on charge in the workshop heightened the risk, making their fast action even more critical.
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By 9 pm, the fire was under control, though crews remained on-site throughout the night, extinguishing hot spots until 8 am the following day. Devon and Somerset Fire Brigade confirmed that while the blaze damaged a car and fencing close to the workshop, firefighters effectively contained it.
The operation involved the use of four breathing apparatus sets, two hose reel jets, a safety jet, ceiling hooks, a thermal imaging camera, and various small tools. The fire, believed to have started accidentally, completely destroyed the workshop and its contents, but thankfully, no injuries were reported.