Fire service confirms cause of thick clouds of black smoke over Plymouth Hoe

'Explosions' were heard in the area

The fire and 'explosions' on the Plymouth Hoe has been confirmed to be caused by a camping gas cylinder. Firefighters were called to the scene of the fire on Hoe Road at 11.33am this morning, Friday, October 11.

As crews arrived at the scene, they found a tent alight on the promenade grass, near Smeatons Tower. A camping gas cyclinder was confirmed to be involved in the fire.

One person told PlymouthLive they heard 'gas explosions' near the military base. Thick plumes of black smoke could be seen pouring into the sky in a video from the scene.

It is not believed that anyone was injured as a result of the fire. The fire caused a small area of damage to the grass, the fire service has said.

A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue service has told PlymouthLive a tent and a camping gas cylinder caught fire. They said: "We were called at 11.33am to Hoe Road where a small tent was on fire on the promenade grassland.

"One crew used a hose reel jet to extinguish the fire and cool a camping gas cylinder which had been involved in the fire. No injures but there was a small area of damage to the grass."