Major Exeter fire investigated after 'mistake'

Scrapyard owners have said they have launched an investigation into the cause of a huge fire at their premises on the Marsh Barton industrial estate. Initial reports have suggested it may have been due to a overheating battery buried deep within a delivery of scrap metal.

Firefighters were alerted to the incident at around 8.40pm on Thursday, November 14 and crews from Danes Castle, Middlemoor, Torquay and Exmouth stations were involved in the operation which saw tall towers of flames and columns of smoke billows for a number of hours.

One witness told DevonLive they heard a "pop" and initially thought it was a firework before they then spotted the flames behind a Sainsbury's store. The fire was deemed fully extinguished at around 7am on Friday, November 15.

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A spokesperson for Unimetals, who run the facility, said: "At approximately 8.40 pm on the 14th of November, a fire occurred at our Exeter facility. We believe this was the result of a Lithium-ion battery, mistakenly delivered by a supplier within a load of scrap metal, and the incident is currently under investigation.

"The fire was successfully contained by the fire department who extinguished it just before 7am, with no injuries reported. The safety and security of our employees and neighbours are always our primary concern, and we will continue to do everything in our power to ensure their continued well-being."

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