Catering lorry ablaze in Batchworth Lane, Northwood (From Watford Observer)

Catering lorry ablaze in Batchworth Lane, Northwood

3:35pm Monday 15th March 2010 in

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A catering lorry containing five propane cylinders caught fire in Northwood earlier today, showering the driver with debris and molten plastic.

At 9.50am, four fire engines from Watford, Rickmansworth and Garston were called to Batchworth Lane, near the Prince of Wales pub, where the seven and a half ton lorry was ablaze.

The driver was taken to hospital with minor burns, after he was alerted to the fire by other drivers, and opened the door to the flaming trailer.

Steve Tant, Watford Station Commander, said: “Five propane cylinders presented a particular hazard to fire fighters and houses nearby, so we had to close the roads in the area.

“It took two hours to get the fire under control and to cool the cylinders, which were venting and involved in the fire. The road had melted and the cylinders were stuck in it.”

Batchworth Lane and the surrounding roads are being opened slowly after the fire was extinguished at just after 1pm.