The fire service has revealed more details about a blaze at a garage on Balthane industrial estate yesterday evening (Monday), which resulted in the main road in Ballasalla being closed for a number of hours.
At 5pm, two appliances from Castletown fire station and the incident command vehicle from Douglas station were sent to deal with a car which was well alight in Classic Car Restorations.
While tackling the blaze it was realised a highly flammable acetylene cylinder was nearby.
Fire crews were withdrawn from the building for safety reasons and with the aid of the police, a 200-metre evacuation zone was established, which included most of the industrial estate, some residential properties and required the closure of the main Castletown Road.
The crews then worked remotely to cool the cylinder and make it safe.
At 11pm, the evacuation zone was reduced to the vicinity of the building.
The cooling process was completed at 8am today.
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