Discarded flare goes off in bin lorry (From Daily Echo)

Discarded flare goes off in bin lorry

7:10am Wednesday 1st September 2010 in News

PART of a Hampshire marina was sealed off after a discarded flare went off in a dustbin lorry.

The flare had been dumped in a skip at the Berthon Boatyard in Lymington and ignited as the rubbish was being collected by Veolia Environmental Services.

Veolia employees raised the alarm after smoke started pouring from the lorry.

Acting on the advice of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, they tipped the rubbish on to the ground, enabling fire crews to extinguish the blaze.

As a precaution, police cordoned off part of the boatyard until the fire was out.

Two crews from Lymington fire station were joined by station manager David Marshall, normally based at Hardley.

He said: “When fire crews arrived a considerable amount of smoke was coming from the flare, which was still on the lorry.

“We’ve been called to a number of incidents involving discarded flares, resulting in a considerable financial burden on the public purse.

“Anyone wishing to dispose of a flare should seek the advice of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.”

A Veolia spokesman was unavailable for comment.