A TANKER carrying aviation fuel caught fire at Gatwick Airport last night (Monday).
The fire began in the engine compartment of the vehicle at about 10pm, on the flyover between the North and South Terminals of the airport.
The dual carriageway was closed by police as Horley firefighters were first on the scene, joined shortly after by six Sussex crews.
Firefighters used a hosereel and three dry powder extinguishers to put out the flames, with two breathing apparatuses also used.
They were on strike from 11pm for an hour as part of the ongoing national row over pension payments and retirement age, so departed at that time and handed over to the airport's own fire and rescue service.
By then the fire was already out, after the vehicle's driver used his own dry power extinguisher as soon as he realised what had happened.
A Horley firefighter said: "He saw flames in his rear-view mirror and he did exactly the right thing. He didn't panic which I think is what most people what have done."
