EXPLOSION AS FIRE RAGES IN NUNEATON
SCHOOL CLOSED AND HOMES EVACUATED AS POLICE SET UP EXCLUSION ZONE IN TUTTLE HILL
AN explosion in Nuneaton led to the evacuation of homes and a primary school as police enforced a 200m exclusion zone.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing loud bangs coming from the scene of a fire in Tuttle Hill.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service said it received the first of eight 999 calls at 8.41am yesterday.
The fire was at what has been described as a single storey garage unit containing a vehicle and acetylene cylinders.
An eye witness described the noise from the large blaze as like a “firework factory going off”.
A 200m exclusion zone was put up around the area and homes were evacuated following the call to emergency services.
The cordon was later downsized to 50m. The road was closed for more than five hours, reopening at around 2.30pm when the cordon was lifted.
Children were also evacuated from Camp Hill Primary School as a result of the fire.
The Hollystitches Road-based school had only just re-opened yesterday after being forced to close because of a traveller encampment setting up home nearby.
In a text to parents it says: “URGENT – because of a nearby fire the police are asking the school to evacuate as a precaution.
“We are taking reception children to the church and the rest of the school to the CHESS centre.
“If you want to collect your children from there, please meet us there otherwise we are hoping to return to school when told. “Children are perfectly safe.” Warwickshire County Council, which is responsible for education, issued a statement in regards to Camp Hill Primary School.
“Camp Hill School will be closed for the rest of the day after being evacuated earlier this morning due to fire at Tuttle Hill, Nuneaton,” the statement reads.
“Those children who could not be collected will be able to stay at the school which will still be open in this capacity.”
No major injuries have been reported.
One man suffered smoke inhalation but was treated at the scene.
A second patient, a female aged in her 40s, has been treated for the effects of shock. She was discharged at the scene. Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the Environment Agency has been informed because a quantity of oil and petrol leaked into the surrounding drains.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson has praised the work of the emergency services during the response to the fire. “All three emergency services worked well together throughout the incident with ambulance crews supporting the fire service and police with evacuating properties where necessary,” the spokesperson said.