A major supermarket branch in Glastonbury was forced to evacuate and close after a significant blaze broke out near the store, prompting fears that the fire could spread. The incident occurred at the Tesco store on Wirral Park Road on Saturday (June 13) evening when a fire involving two caravans ignited. According to the fire service, the caravans were located close to the store, presenting a high risk of the fire spreading to the building.
In a Facebook post at around 9.10 pm, the supermarket issued a message to customers, as reported by SomersetLive. The store stated it would be closed for the time being while damage was assessed, and customers were advised to avoid the area. The post read: 'Please avoid Tesco Glastonbury for the time being whilst we assess the damage caused by a fire. I will re-post when open, many thanks.' In further updates, the store confirmed: 'We are definitely closed for the rest of the evening... We will reopen tomorrow as usual - 9.30 am for browsing, 10 am for purchasing. Thanks for your patience.'
Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service also issued a statement, indicating that the cause of the blaze is believed to be deliberate. The two caravans were completely destroyed, and the store sustained some external fire damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. According to the full report from the fire service, the fire occurred at around 8.07 pm. Two fire appliances from Glastonbury and Street were initially dispatched following multiple calls reporting a caravan on fire at the Tesco supermarket. While en route, a third appliance was requested from Wells after a large plume of smoke was observed. Crews arrived within minutes and increased attendance by two more appliances from Somerton and Shepton Mallet, along with an aerial ladder platform from Bridgwater, after confirming that two caravans were on fire in close proximity to the store with a high risk of fire spreading.
Due to the quick response and immediate increase in resources, crews were able to bring the fire under control and prevent extensive spread to the store, which had been evacuated by staff. At 1.40 am, the incident was brought under control and the fire extinguished. The two caravans were completely destroyed, with the store sustaining only 10 per cent external fire damage. The deliberately started fire was extinguished using two breathing apparatus, three hose reel jets, two main jets, one covering jet assisted by the aerial ladder platform, along with ladders and fogging spikes. Thermal imaging cameras were used to check for fire spread and hotspots, while positive pressure ventilation fans cleared the store of smoke. There were no casualties, and once the scene was made safe, the incident was left in the hands of store staff and police.
