Wednesday 3 December
17.00 M4 Eastbound between junctions 22 and 21, near Pilning,
Bristol.
Avon Fire & Rescue Service was called in following reports
of a fire involving a tanker carrying chemicals on the M4 motorway
near Bristol.
A total of 10 appliances attended the incident as a
precautionary measure in case any chemicals were involved in the
blaze.
The fire had started after a tyre at the rear of the tanker
suffered a puncture. The driver pulled over and disconnected
the cab from the trailer when a fire broke out
underneath the tanker. On arrival four firefighters wearing
breathing apparatus worked rapidly with a jet to extinguish
the fire.
Fortunately the tanker's contents were not
affected and there was no chemical escape. At the height of
the incident the M4 was closed in both directions, but the
road was soon reopened when it was ascertained no chemicals
were involved in the fire.
A thermal imaging camera was later used to check for
hot spots as crews used the jet to cool the tanker before it
could be recovered.