FIREFIGHTERS feared gas cylinders might explode as they fought the second arson attack within weeks on a storage yard near Rhostyllen.

Two crews from Wrexham were called to deal with the fire which broke out in lorry trailers at Penybryn Farm, in the Fron Deg area of Esclusham, at around 6.30am yesterday.

The fire service’s community safety manager Paul Whyrbo, who was at the scene, said: “When the crews arrived they found a number of lorry bodies, with unknown contents, well alight.

“There were gas cylinders present and one always has to be aware of the possibility these might explode – firefighters have actually been killed by this happening.

“But after taking advice from the owner, who had by then arrived at the scene, we realised these weren’t as hazardous as first thought.

“We believe the fire was started deliberately and this is not the first deliberate fire at this address. The last one was only three or four weeks ago.”

He added: “We had the fire under control within a few hours but we did have problems with water supply due to the remoteness of the location.

“We therefore used the on-board water supply from our fire engines and when this ran out one of the appliances ran a shuttle service bringing back further supplies from a hydrant some distance away.

“The owner, Dennis Dodd, remained at the scene assisting with firefighting operations.”

Mr Dodd declined to speak to the Leader.

Mr Whyrbo said officials from the council’s environmental health department had also attended the incident.

Issuing a strong warning about deliberate fires, he said: “They are a massive drain on our resources and are caused by selfish and unthinking people.

“Anyone with information about the incident in Fron Deg should contact the police on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

A spokeswoman for North Wales Police said: “We are working with the fire service to establish the cause of the blaze.”