Fire breaks out in car workshop

The incident at a property at Barnham Road last Thursday evening resulted in neighbouring properties being evacuated as a potentially volatile gas cylinder was discovered in a car workshop where the blaze broke out.

Mike Hetherington, commander at Chichester Fire Station, attended the scene at around 8.30pm.

He said the road was cordoned off and four engines were called to attend the fire, which destroyed 50 per cent of the interior of the outbuilding.

He said: "When our first crew arrived we were made aware in the workshop was an Argon gas cylinder '“ so before we went in there we used a special thermal imaging camera equipment to check that it was not likely to explode.

"When we were satisfied that it was safe to enter the garage crews fought the fire with conventional hoses."

He added: "The couple had been working on a car which was due to be used for banger racing when an electrical spark caused the fire.

"As a precaution we evacuated nearby houses.

"There was also a nursing home close to the property but because of the inclement weather we decided not to evacuate the building, but moved residents to the farthest end of the home.

"At one point we were considering closing the railway line which the property is close to, but decided against this, though Network Rail and Arun District Council were both in attendance for a full evacuation plan and worked very well with us."

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