Major traffic delays on the A55 at Chester after a camper van exploded

Jan 3 2011 by Rachel Flint, Chester Chronicle

COMMUTERS faced hours of disruption after a camper van exploded on a main road.

Traffic backed up on the A55 near Chester after police closed the stretch between Sainsbury’s on the A41 and Wrexham Road on the A483, while firefighters tackled the blaze.

At 1.18pm on Monday (January 3) firefighters were called to the junction after a camper van burst into flames on the slip road.

Fourteen firefighters battled to put out the blaze, which had spread through the rear of the Fiat Ducato camper van while it was travelling along the road.

A passing motorist, who noticed smoke billowing from the back of the vehicle, alerted the driver who had not realised that his van was on fire.

Police closed both the A55 northbound and southbound lanes while the van, which contained gas cylinders, was made safe.

Two fire crews from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the fire, but had to call in help from Ellesmere Port after they struggled to access water to put out the flames.

The firefighters used water from hydrants on nearby streets to put out the fire, which took almost two hours to get under control.

No one was hurt in the fire, which gutted the vehicle, and Šreportedly caused traffic delays seeing the A55 backed up for hours during the afternoon.

Two hose reels and two sets of breathing equipment were needed to put out the blaze, which was put out by 3.12pm, allowing police to reopen the stretch of road.

Firefighter Mark Beechey, white watch manager for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The driver was flagged down by a passing motorist, he was completely unaware that a fire had started in his van.

“We had to call for backup from Ellesmere Port crews, as water is important on motorway incidents, and we had to use water from residential hydrants.

“The cause of the fire is unknown. We think that it was caused by an electrical fault.”