FIREFIGHTERS raced against time to put out a fire at a Hampshire landfill site before three acetylene cylinders exploded.
The blaze broke out in a large pile of rubbish at the site in Bunny Lane, Romsey, at 9.50pm last night.
Firefighters rushed to prevent the fire spreading towards an area of the waste sorting building where three highly flammable and unstable acetylene cylinders were located.
A 200-metre exclusion zone was set up around the fire, and crews from Romsey, Redbridge and Stockbridge worked through the night to bring it under control.
Group Manager Kevin Evenett, officer in charge at the incident said: "Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service encourage the use of alternatives toacetylene cylinders in industry and small business wherever possible."
Crews will monitor the cylinders during the day and the exclusion zone will stay in place for at least 24 hours.
