FIRE CREWS were called to Rosyth dockyard after halon gas escaped from a cylinder on HMS Edinburgh yesterday.

Two appliances from Rosyth and two from Dunfermline rushed to the dockyard shortly before 10 am and were involved in ventilating the engine compartment where the leak occurred.

The services remained at the scene for about an hour, when dockyard staff took over handling the incident.

Halon gas is commonly used in fire extinguishers, particularly by manufacturing, electronic and aviation companies.

However, it is being phased out because of its harmful effect on the environment. As a CFC, it contributes to the depletion of the ozone layer.

Station officer David McLeod from Rosyth said no one was injured in the incident on board the ship, but halon can be harmful.

“The main danger is that halon is heavier than air and can displace air, making the atmosphere unbreathable,” he said. “It can also burn you if it is in liquid form.”

The station officer added that the incident was being treated as an accident.