A major lorry fire caused chaos in a seaside town with “bangs and explosions” heard across the area. The blaze, involving a B&M lorry, broke out in Pwllheli around 8am on Wednesday morning. It’s believed the vehicle was making a delivery to the local store. One bystander said that the driver reportedly moved the lorry a short distance to a safer location to protect the public. Initial reports suggest the tyre caught fire first. Police cordoned off roads around Ala Road/Ffordd Caerdydd as fire crews rushed to the scene.
Witnesses reported numerous “bangs”, leading to speculation that the lorry was carrying fireworks. Dominic Richardson, director of Dominic Richardson’s window cleaning services, was cleaning windows at Treflan Doctor’s Surgery when he heard “a massive bang”. He said: “I could smell the burning rubber instantly. Then I turned around and the tyre was on fire, so I quickly packed up my things after I realized what was happening and drove away to get myself into safety.”
“I went across the road and started to let the traffic and pedestrians know what was happening to try and keep everyone safe. It all happened about 10 foot away from me, it was quite frightening. I was really shook up after,” North Wales Live has reported. Another witness said: “I arrived as the cordon was being set up – people said there were fireworks going off with lots of bangs.” North Wales Fire and Rescue Service stated: “We were called to a fire involving a heavy goods vehicle delivering goods to a local shop in the Lower Cardiff Road area of Pwllheli at 8.05am this morning. We have four appliances and two specialist units in attendance.”
The incident sparked fears among the locals as the seaside town was rocked by the dramatic episode. The sound of explosions and a thick plume of black smoke added to the intensity of the situation. Cleanup operations and investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage to nearby properties.
Efforts by emergency services and authorities to secure the area and manage the aftermath highlight the importance of swift response and coordination in such incidents. The community is urged to remain vigilant and follow safety protocols in case of similar emergencies in the future. The impact of the fire on local businesses and residents is being assessed as the town recovers from the shock of the flames engulfing a significant vehicle within its midst.