An investigation has been launched by HS2 after a fire broke out inside one of it’s under-construction tunnels located near Maple Cross.
The small blaze took place on a vehicle in the southbound tunnel on the side closer to the Hertfordshire village. A nearby tunnel boring machine (TBM) was undamaged.
HS2 confirmed that three workers were caught up in the incident but stayed inside TBM until the fire had been extinguished, in line with safety procedures. All workers were then evacuated, with no hospitalisations.
A spokesperson from Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue said: “Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called at 19:35 on the evening of 10th May to a report of a vehicle on fire in a tunnel under construction near Maple Cross.
“Fire engines from Rickmansworth, Watford and Garston fire stations were sent to the scene and, having established that everybody was safe, firefighters worked with the on-site specialists to extinguish the fire and ventilate smoke and gas from the tunnel. Firefighters remained on site overnight.”
An HS2 spokesperson said: “We can confirm that the emergency services attended an incident at the HS2 Chiltern Tunnel South Portal site on Tuesday evening. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. All personnel are safe and accounted for.”
HS2 is a high-speed railway line currently under construction across the country, designed to link several routes across London, Birmingham, the East Midlands and the North West, as well as the surrounding areas.
Photo Credit: HS2
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