Fire service investigating Telford tanker blaze - as council reveals nearby pool 'contaminated' by incident
At the height of the blaze nine fire crews were at the scene.
An investigation is underway into the cause of a major tanker fire in Telford yesterday.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was not yet known what had caused the tanker to ignite on Rock Road in Overdale, but that investigations are ongoing.
In the aftermath of the operation to tackle the blaze, which saw the nearby Newdale Primary School and Nursery evacuated, it has been revealed by Lawley and Overdale Parish Council, that Newdale Pool has also been contaminated by water used to deal with the inferno.
In an update on social media the council said: “Please be advised that Newdale Pool is currently affected by contaminated water following a fire in the area yesterday.
“Members of the public are asked to stay away from the water until further notice, this includes all pets.
“Please also be reminded that fishing is strictly prohibited in the pool, as is the case under normal circumstances. The situation is being monitored and further updates will be issued when available.”
The Environment Agency has confirmed it has taken measures to prevent further pollution following the incident.
A spokesman said: “Our officers attended the site of the fire in Telford as soon as we were alerted to the situation and have been supporting the emergency services at the scene.
“Now that the fire has been extinguished, we have employed specialist contractors to remove oil and deployed containment booms to minimise impacts to the environment and we can confirm that no further pollutants are entering nearby watercourses.
“We are actively monitoring the situation and are currently awaiting the results of water samples so we can properly assess the extent of the environmental impact.”
Meanwhile, Shropshire fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS) area manager Scott Hurford issued an update on its response - and the efforts to find out what sparked the incident.
He said: "Emergency services responded to a fuel tanker fire in Newdale, Telford yesterday - Tuesday, April 14.
"SFRS were called to the area of Marlborough Way around 12.07pm due to reports of a fire. There were nine appliances in attendance at the height of the incident which caused a significant smoke plume.
“The public were given safety advice at the time to avoid the area and close windows and doors. We have now left the scene but the road remains closed while our partners deal with the recovery.
"A fire investigation has not been concluded and therefore a cause is not known at this time."
In another online post the parish council also thanked those who had helped during the response to the incident.
It said: “The parish council would like to say a big thank you to all the emergency services who attended and assisted with the incident in Newdale yesterday, including Telford & Wrekin Police and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
“Thank you to all our residents and members of the public for following the advice given by the local authorities and for supporting one another throughout.
“We also appreciate the support shown by local businesses, including Anytime Fitness Telford, The Grazing Cow at Lawley and Morrisons, for supporting Newdale Primary School during this time.
“We understand this may have affected people and had an impact on the local area, and we are working with our partners to ensure the situation is resolved as quickly as possible.”
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