Melton firefighters sound appeal to motorists after Thorpe Arnold tractor blaze

A crew from the town centre were scrambled yesterday (Wednesday) after reports of a tractor on fire in Lag Lane.

They wasted valuable time attempting to negotiate their way around the parked car and warn that the consequences would have been more serious had it been a house fire they were attending.

Scott Smith, crew manager at the Melton station, said: “You could see a plume of thick black smoke from a distance but as we arrived

at the start of Lag Lane we were delayed accessing the fire due to a parked vehicle on a bend.

“It took around one-and- half minutes for two firefighters to dismount the appliance and guide the fire engine through what was a very narrow gap with millimetres to spare either side.

“The road was particularly busy due to an event on at the village hall.

“On this occasion we were unable to save the tractor which was 100 per cent destroyed by fire but next time it could be a house fire that we can’t get to because of thoughtless parking.

“We would ask motorists to please remember the emergency services when parking their vehicles.”

The firefighters used breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets to tackle the blaze, which was reported at 10.42am.

They had it under control within 20 minutes and the cause was believed to be an accident.