Huge Fire Breaks Out At Isle Of Wight Boatyard

Ferry services to the Isle of Wight have been disrupted after a large fire at a boatyard on an industrial estate in Cowes.

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Explosions were reported after the blaze broke out at a marina workshop, containing flammable gas and 50 fibreglass boats, in Medina Village.

Plumes of smoke billowed as high as 200ft into the air while more than 30 firefighters tackled the blaze on Monday afternoon.

Smoke could be seen from Isle of Wight ferries and one operator, Red Funnel, was forced to cancel some services on safety grounds.

Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene at about 12.30pm.

Fifty fibreglass boats are believed to be on the premises, in addition to cars and acetylene cylinders.

Social media users posted pictures on Twitter of a pall of thick, black smoke visible around the town.

Residents in surrounding streets were evacuated from their homes and witnesses reported hearing explosions.

Karen Harris, working in a nearby office, described seeing “thick bellowing smoke”.

“It’s floating down the Medina River – you can see the thick cloud coming into the harbour. It keeps pulsing into the sky and it’s obscured the floating bridge – its quite dramatic,” she told the BBC.

The fire service evacuated properties along Bridge Street and a 200 metre cordon was put in place.

The Red Funnel car ferry from Southampton, Hampshire, to Cowes was suspended along with the nearby Cowes Chain Ferry.

The Health and Safety Executive warns that acetylene is an extremely flammable gas and can form an explosive atmosphere in the presence of air or oxygen.

It is contained in cylinders that have a different design to other gas cylinders and is primarily used for welding, cutting and similar related processes with a torch.

An Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “There were 50 fibreglass boats, multiple cars and acetylene cylinders inside the building.

“We received a call at 12.31pm this afternoon and six fire engines are currently on the scene.

“As far as we know everyone who works in the building has been accounted for.”

A Hampshire Fire and Service spokesman said: “There is a major fire inside an industrial unit near the harbour in Cowes.

“There is a great deal of smoke coming out and we have got six appliances there. We have evacuated the residential homes on Bridge Street.”

A Red Funnel spokesman said: “Red Funnel’s vehicle ferry service between Southampton and East Cowes has now been suspended on safety grounds due to a large fire which has broken out in the Medina Village area of Cowes (West).

“Foot passengers are being given free upgrades to Red Funnel’s Red Jet service between Southampton and West Cowes which is operating normally.

“Vehicle customers will be refunded for the affected leg of their journey if they wish to rebook via Fishbourne or Yarmouth.

“This is an evolving situation and customers are asked to check the website and social media channels for the latest travel information.

“In the meantime, Red Funnel would like to apologise to all customers for the inconvenience this incident has caused”.