'Hero' flying instructor saves aircraft from being destroyed by fire at Cornish airfield
The team at Bodmin says Andy Wilkins raised the alarm when the blaze broke out in a hangar
Last updated 25th Oct 2021
A flying instructor is being praised after he managed to save planes from being destroyed by fire in Cornwall.
Bodmin Airfield says Andy Wilkins was staying over at the club when the blaze broke out in the maintenance hangar.
He raised the alarm on Friday night, before clearing aircraft from the adjacent building.
Crews from Bodmin, Wadebridge, St Dennis, Padstow, St Austell, Launceston and Liskeard got the call at around 7.30pm.
They arrived to find a hangar, with aircraft and an unknown amount of jet fuel inside, well alight.
Bodmin Airfield has since confirmed no-one was hurt and all aircraft in the hangar survived, but the briefing rooms were destroyed.
They added that without Andy's quick-thinking, the outcome could have been disastrous.
Posting on their Facebook page on the evening of the fire, Bodmin Airfield said: "Troubling events at the airfield tonight... a fire in the maintenance hangar!
"Fortunately, one of our instructors, Andy Wilkins, was staying over at the club and was able to raise the alarm and evacuate the majority of the aircraft from our adjacent hangar before help arrived.
"Without this stroke of fortune and Andy’s great efforts, the outcome could have been disastrous".
The morning after they added: "All aircraft in the club hangars survived, power is back on and we have running water where it should be. We hope to be open tomorrow, but please check Notams.
"Our briefing rooms are destroyed, but we will rebuild them. Briefings will have to take place in the clubhouse, where the café is still open, and fresh coffee available.
"No-one hurt, and we will keep calm and carry on.
"Thanks to the emergency services for containing the damage to our building. It could have been so much worse had there been no-one on site to raise the alarm".
They later posted that despite the fire, Bodmin Airfield is open on Tuesday 26th October to celebrate the LAA 75th Birthday and invited people to come and join the celebrations.