Flames of huge fire in St Ives were 30ft high and 'blew out a window'
The blaze broke out at a business on an industrial estate
Last updated 24th Mar 2022
A man who raised the alarm as a huge fire took hold at a business in St Ives has told us the flames were 20 to 30 feet high.
Firefighters from across west Cornwall rushed to Penbeagle Industrial Estate early on Thursday morning (24th March).
Smoke from the blaze at a laundry firm was so thick it could be seen across the estuary at Hayle.
Adrian works nearby and called the emergency services.
He told us: "I was taking rubbish to our bin and I saw a small flame in the window, then all of a sudden the window blew and it just went up within seconds, and that's when I phoned 999.
"Well is started off very small but within seconds it was 20, 30ft flames. We've had to move all our vans away from the adjoining car park, so the fire brigade can get up and do their job."
Crews are still at the scene and say a fractured gas pipe is hampering their operations.
Investigators are waiting to get inside the building to establish the cause so we don't yet know the extent of the damage.
Station Manager Des O'Connell is one of the Incident Commanders, he told us:
"There has been a significant fire inside the building, there is quite sizeable damage inside caused by fire and smoke to the unit itself, and there has been some spread.
"We've had seven appliances and an aerial ladder platform and we've managed to maintain the fire to the unit.
"We are yet to determine the cause but we have fire investigators on scene and they will proceed to look for that."
Linda Taylor, the leader of Cornwall Council, has paid tribute to the firefighters for their response.
She wrote on her Facebook page: "Cornwall Fire Service thank you to the prompt response to the serious fire at Penbeagle. St Ives were well-supported by other Fire Alliances.
"I do not know the full extent to the Coast to Coast Laundry Building, but wish them a quick return to commercial operation."
What do we know about what happened?
Critical control received multiple calls reporting a fire at an industrial unit in St Ives just before 6.30am on Thursday morning.
Two appliances from St Ives were mobilised along with a flexi duty officer. On arrival crews requested additional three major pumping appliances and the aerial ladder platform.
Crews from Hayle, Tolvaddon, Truro, Penzance and Falmouth were mobilised as well as an additional officer.
At 7.30am there was a message received make pumps seven so further resources from Perranporth and Penzance were mobilised.
The incident was sectorised with good progress been made. Western Power and Wales & West Utilities have also been in attendance.
The incident has slowly been down scaled. Crews continue to monitor hotspots and cutting away.