Tar heater sparked centre blaze

Sep 23 2008

A massive blaze at a multi-million pound shopping centre in which several gas canisters exploded was sparked by a tar heater, the fire service said.

Flames 50ft high and a series of blasts stunned shoppers near the construction site of the SouthGate retail development, in Bath, Somerset.

The cylinders ignited after fire broke out on the third - and highest - storey of block B.

The inferno at the £360 million site, which will house stores such as H&M, began when a tar heater used for asphalting caught alight.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service spokesman James Bladon said the fire was extinguished within an hour and cylinders still in the building - less than 10 - were being made safe with jets.

A 150-metre exclusion zone taking in nine roads containing shops and businesses will remain in place overnight.

The Health and Safety Executive have been informed.

The fire did not spread beyond the shell of the block, which is under construction, and did not affect other parts of the development.

Police confirmed that no homes had been evacuated.

Earlier, staff were seen running from a branch of Halifax and a nearby McDonald's was also cleared as a plume of smoke hung above the historic Spa town.