Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is tackling a fire at Benjamin’s Bar & Bistro in Shanklin this afternoon (Thursday).
2 appliances from Shanklin and Ryde are on scene in the High Street, which has been closed in both directions.
4 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus have been committed to the building, using 2 hose reel jets to extinguish the fire.
Positive pressure ventilation is now being used to rid smoke from the building.
Island Echo is told that a bag of clothing self-combusted, which has led to the building being heavily smoke logged.
Emergency services were alerted to the incident at 14:00. A 3rd appliance from Ryde and the Aerial Ladder Platform from Newport were also mobilised alongside Shanklin and Ryde’s 1st away, but have been stood down en-route.
High Street remains closed to all motorists with traffic diverting locally.
UPDATE @ 15:00 – The road has now reopened in both directions.
Ahhh, yes… a vape pen left in a pair of trousers trying desperately to escape being drowned in the washing machine …
I’m intrigued; how can a bag of clothing self-combust?
Could have had something like linseed oil on. You’ll be surprised how a tiny bit of oil oxidising on textiles will go up. I know I was.
You better believe it. Fire in hot materials that have been in a dryer even kitchen rag that have been washed.so don’t put hot washing in plastic bags.
I think the phrase is ‘Spontaneous Combustion’ and I agree with James, any number of common products on the right sort of materials will self combust, likewise a vape or anything with a battery in.
Must have been Hot pants.
That is not cool.
Ah Bistro,plot reasons and thickens all in one go!
Do we need to know about every pease of equipment and destination of said equipment used by the emergency service,????…very long winded….
Just give the basic information, for god sake….
shame people weren’t hurt
now the owner has to buy new kitchen appliances AND actually pay the workers their £100’s of owed wages 🙁 girly is gonna be broke
That’s going to be a hard one to explain to the insurance company.