A suspected fire onboard St Faith has prompted crews from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service to rush to the Wightlink terminal in Portsmouth this afternoon (Sunday). The alarm was first raised to those on the Fishbourne – Portsmouth crossing at around 15:30 after passengers made reports of smoke in the passenger lounge. Pumping appliances from the Portsmouth area – around 6 of them – met the boat – which first came into service back in 1990 – as she docked. Island Echo understands that those arriving at Portsmouth have been allowed to disembark whilst fire crews board the vessel in attempts to ascertain what’s going on. As a result of the incident, Wightlink has announced that the 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00 from Portsmouth and the 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00 from Fishbourne have been cancelled. Booked customers are to be moved to alternate sailings. UPDATE ON MONDAY – Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have said that following investigation it was found to be a false alarm, with the smell of smoke being attributed to fumes from an electrical light.
UPDATED: SUSPECTED FIRE ON ST FAITH SEES FIRE CREWS RUSH TO WIGHTLINK TERMINAL
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Battery cars, like sitting in an incendiary bomb. Doors lock you in automatically, and trapped like rats in a cage. Avoid until batteries are made safe.
Nobody has said it was an EV fire…. if it was, there would be carnage and many burnt out cars- like the Luton Airport incident….
Except the Luton Airport fire seems to have started with a diesel vehicle, according to all the reports I’ve seen.
It was, Look at the BBCs article, quite clearly see its a range rover. EVs are the future unless a sustainable fuel is found.
I thought vaping was banned on board????
Seems to be more and more of these electrical cars bursting into flames now. I suppose the worry is if it shorts out the ecu, then the doors stay locked and if inside a real risk to all.
perhaps they should only send this cars on the explosive boat late at night.
Battery cars need to be shipped on a barge towed behind the car ferries so they can be cut adrift when the catch fire. It is not right that the safety of all is compromised just to serve the greedy few who wrongly feel they are saving the climate, but can cause the innocent to burn to death following their misguided thoughts.
Seemingly yet another EV fire. I think most of us sensible people would prefer the climate here a few degrees warmer than it is, and not have to risk our lives traveling with these timed fire bombs in hotel car parks, multi story car parks, and on car ferries.
All the hallmarks of yet another EV self combusting. Ban them from car Ferries now before an awful tragic accidents occurs and kills people.
vape..ill expect..or burnt toast at £3 a slice..
Was concerned the story was going to be the 1st unstopable Electric car fire god forbid hope the fire services are ready for it
Maybe time to segregate EV’s from other traffic before something terrible occurs at sea.
All that they have to do is slow down, put the ramp down and push it out. Every most dangerous load is put on at front and rear ends.
Zeebruger Springs to mind if lowering the boarding ramp. Perhaps have a tilting upper deck they could slide them off into the Ocean if on fire.
Probably all there customers money up in smoke
You strange person I bet you’re a lonely soul
I was on the sailing. It wasn’t a e.v fire or anything on the vehicle deck, that would of been a much bigger incident and quite apparant. Smelt like plastic or something electrical burning, a system on the ferry somewhere. Was a fair bit of smoke.
I am surprised Wightlink didn’t charge them for going on board to
Investigate
Why is everyone scare mongering stating it was an EV that caused it, where on earth are they getting their ideas from, more gossip to follow no doubt.
No one has said it was an EV but clearly without the full facts in the article such is not a ridiculous assumption pre more facts.
Someone who ‘says’ they were onboard has said it wasn’t an EV.
But could have easily have been, and one day it will be, some of us prefer that all precautions are met BEFORE we see little white Coffins being lowered into the ground 80 years too early.
What procedure IF any does the ferries have to contain an EV fire?
Don’t know? Likely don’t care UNTIL it happens.
Some prefer keeping the door closed pre the horse bolting.
So cant you see these were just assumptions that starts rumours going then.
Its quite simple, just wait for the facts to be given and not what could be’s and might have beens.
Practice drills will be in place for such eventualities and yes i have been on quite a few of those mainly on the mainland regarding various incidents that could happen.
“everyone” is a couple of pig-ignorant trolls with multiple accounts.
It is about time Island Echo weeded them out
Here hoping that wightlink staff know what there doing with battery car as if there don’t what a bad mess that could be and how many would die before wightlink dose any think
What? How did you ‘type’ this?
With difficulty on reading it lol.
No injuries so that’s good And good as well it happened on the North island as the IOW fire engine may have been saving a cat from a building ..
Quote …
A Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “Fire crews were called to attend a suspected fire following reports of a smell of smoke in the passenger lounge of a Wightlink ferry on Sunday, January 7, at around 3.30pm. Following investigation by firefighters it was found to be a false alarm with the smell of smoke being attributed to fumes from an electrical light.”
All the prejudices and assumptions and scare-mongering on show here are a sight to behold.