CHEMICAL response officers were called to Southampton docks last night after reports of a 3,000-ton sulphur tank ablaze.
However, when officers arrived, they found the tank’s steam suppression system had been activated.
Steam venting from the top of the tank looked like smoke, prompting fears that a fire had broken out.
Six fire crews attended the incident in West Bay Road, flanked by support engines and command unit vehicles.
The officers were from St Mary’s, Hightown, Totton, Winchester and Cosham.
A spokesman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called at 7.31pm and the incident ended at 9.29pm.
“The steam suspension system had activated due to a system fault.”
Firefighters set up a 300-metre exclusion zone as they tackled the incident.
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