Exmouth firefighters respond after empty fuel tanker wheel catches fire

Exmouth firefighters were called out after the driver of an empty fuel tanker reported one of his wheels had caught fire just before 11.40am on Monday (5 June).

The driver managed to extinguish the blaze, which was in a nearside front brake caliper, before crews arrived at the scene in the Chudleigh area.

The cause was reportedly accidental.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "Fire Control received a call from a driver reporting that the wheel of the fuel tanker he was driving had caught fire. The fuel tanker had an empty load.

"Crews from Middlemoor, Exmouth and Danes Castle were mobilised to this incident.

"Crews confirmed that the fire was in a nearside front brake caliper and the driver had managed to extinguish this prior to the crews arrival. Crews made sure the vehicle was safe and undertook cooling actions. 

"The cause of this was said to be accidental."