Devizes canal boat fire: Residents feared blaze would erupt

Fire crews rushed to the Kennet and Avon Canal in Devizes, near the London Road Bridge, after a “significant fire” broke out on a barge at around 6.45pm on Saturday, November 25.

Three teams attended the incident and worked for nearly two hours to extinguish the fire, which left the boat completely “destroyed” and partially submerged.

Some residents, who live near the canal path, have now described their “disconcerting” experience watching the fire rage from their homes.

One local, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I saw a big white light all of a sudden and that was the fire engine turning into the road.

“It was a bit disconcerting and a bit of a shock, we were a little bit surprised, with canal boats there are gas bottles and things like that.

“If something had exploded it probably would’ve taken our windows out, there were firefighters right across the path, it was a bit worrying.”

The blaze at the time of the fire (Image: Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service)

Another neighbour told this paper they saw clouds of smoke coming from the canal.

The remains of the burnt-out boat remained in the canal on the morning of Tuesday, November 28.

Despite the destruction of the barge, there are not believed to have been any casualties during the incident.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service told this paper they are continuing to investigate the cause of the inferno.

This comes after firefighters extinguished the fire at around 8.30pm on Saturday night, before returning to dampen down the remaining internal hotspots the following morning.

Crews from Devizes, Calne, and Trowbridge had found the canal boat “well alight” on arrival and used three main jets to tackle the incident.

The aftermath of the fire (Image: Trevor Porter)

Police remained on the scene overnight, after closing both the footpath and London Road, between Brickley Lane and the junction of Quakers Road.

A cordon was still in place the following day and both pedestrians and motorists were urged to seek alternative routes.

At the time, a spokesperson for the force added: “Emergency services are currently at the scene of a significant fire on a canal boat on the Kennet and Avon canal near the London Road bridge in Devizes.

“We are not aware of any casualties and while the cause of the fire has yet to be determined, there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances at this time.”