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Home » News & Events » 2011 » November » Canal boat fire

Canal boat fire

Crews were alerted to the fire at around 12.25am and two fire engines from Kidderminster were sent to the scene. They found a small narrow boat (approximately 6m x 1m) on fire just near to Caldwell Lock, off the Stourport Road. 


Watch Commander Gareth Clarke explained: "We had two calls reporting the fire, one from police officers in Whitehouse Road and the second from a resident in Larches Road in the opposite direction, and it was quite a challenge locating the incident and getting the equipment to the scene."

He explained that with access restricted, crews had to carry a portable pump some distance along the towpath and then used a main jet from the pump to start tackling the fire.

He continued: "A gas cylinder on the boat presented an extra risk and firefighters had to use the cover of the nearby bridge to offer extra protection as they attacked the fire and cooled the cylinder."

The fire was under control in less than an hour, with the boat and the cylinder submerged below the water.

British Waterways and the Environment Agency have been made aware of the incident.