Gas cylinder alert as fire crews tackle blaze in street
EMERGENCY services had to close a street next to the entrance to the Rotherhithe Tunnel in East London last night while tackling a blaze when they discovered gas cylinders. They were called to Ratcliff Cross Street just before Tuesday’s evening rush-hour
EMERGENCY services had to close a street next to the entrance to the Rotherhithe Tunnel in East London last night (Tuesday) while tackling a blaze when they discovered gas cylinders.
They were called to a pile of rubbish alight in Ratcliff Cross Street near Shadwell, just before the evening rush-hour.
But firefighters suddenly discovered three cylinders alight in the rubbish, one containing liquid petroleum gas, one with oxygen and the third compressed air.
MYSTERY
“We don’t know how the cylinders got there,” said a Fire Brigade officer. “Water had to be used to keep them cool, but there was no danger of explosion.
“We’re now investigating where the cylinders came from that were dumped in the street.”
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Fire crews were dealing with the cylinders for two hours before giving the all clear.’
Police closed off part of the street during the incident, but kept Rotherhithe Tunnel traffic moving in the rush-hour ahead of the 48-strike London Underground that began last night.
