Plymouth Plus can reveal that the fire which led to the evacuation of Plymouth Marjon University today was not a vehicle fire, despite inaccurate reports published elsewhere falsely claiming otherwise.
The actual cause was a electrical unit fire inside a sports building at the university which was already out by the time fire crews had arrived.
This is the second incident in recent days where news reporting elsewhere has been inaccurate. A previous house fire was wrongly reported as occurring in Honicknowle when it actually took place in Ernesettle. It was also reported that someone was injured, despite it being confirmed no one was hurt.
Plymouth Plus verifies all incident details directly with emergency services before publishing. We do not rely on partial or speculative information from online sources. Readers deserve clear, correct and timely information, especially when public safety is involved.
Firefighters were sent to the scene on Plymbridge Lane shortly after midday today, 5 August, following reports of smoke inside the building. Staff and members of the public were evacuated as a precaution. Several fire engines and an aerial ladder platform from Crownhill and Greenbank stations attended.
In a statement provided to Plymouth Plus, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said crews used breathing apparatus, a dry powder extinguisher, a thermal imaging camera and gas monitors to ensure the area was safe. The spokesperson added that the small electrical unit fire was out upon the arrival of firefighters.
In an unrelated incident elsewhere in the city today, a garage fire broke out in Estover just before 3pm, forcing nearby businesses including Screwfix to evacuate. News reports elsewhere confused these two incidents and incorrectly claimed there was a garage fire involving two cars at Plymouth Marjon University.
If a fire breaks out in Plymouth, we will continue to report what actually happened, not what sounds dramatic in an attempt to get more clicks.
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