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Three taken to hospital after house explosion

Bea Swallow
BBC News, Bristol
Explosion eyewitness describes the scene

Three people have been taken to hospital following a suspected gas explosion that has destroyed a house.

Emergency services were called to the property on Lancaster Road in Yate, near Bristol, at 06:53 BST, where a blaze had engulfed the property.

More than 40 residents were evacuated after the flames spread to neighbouring homes. A cordon remains in place while a refuge centre has been set up at the nearby Farmhouse pub.

Neighbour Charlie Daines was in her garden when she heard "an almighty explosion" and witnessed the house "shooting up into the air".

BBC Radio Bristol speaks to next door neighbour of the property.

"It was just crumbling. It flew miles into the sky and all the smoke that followed it," she said.

"I've never seen anything like it. The noise, the fire, and the house just gone in seconds."

Ms Daines added that the lady whose house had exploded was concerned about her dog.

"She was just saying, 'my dog, my dog', over and over again. And she was saying, 'that's my house, that's everything, that's my home'."

One man jumped into the back garden to see if he could find the pet, and Ms Daines said she believes the dog was found later, half a mile away.

"I'm a pet owner myself, so I'm just glad the dog's ok because they haven't got anything left," she added.

PA/Ben Birchall A view over the back garden of the damaged property, showing the row of terraced homes with the middle one burnt to the ground. In the foreground, the car park is covered in brick fragments and debris.PA/Ben Birchall
Witnesses said debris from the explosion was thrown into the air

Two of the people being treated in hospital are believed to have lived at the house, the BBC understands.

Avon and Somerset Police said their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

"A fourth person has sustained minor injuries and was seen by the ambulance service," the force added.

A cordon remains in place and members of the public are being advised to avoid the area while emergency services are at the scene.

PA/Ben Birchall The charred bricks of the damaged home. The roof has completely gone but the line where the tiles once were is still visible. A neighbour's bedroom window has been smashed from the impact.PA/Ben Birchall
The terraced property has been completely gutted by fire, damaging the neighbouring homes

Rich Cainey has lived next door to the damaged property with his parents for 35 years.

He told the BBC he was asleep when he was suddenly "thrown out of bed" by the impact of the explosion.

"I ran outside and saw next door's house was completely gone and engulfed in flames," said Mr Cainey.

"I could hear screams from next door so my first thought was to get everyone out safely."

Rich Cainey wearing a black hoodie and black rectangular glasses. He has a full dark beard and short brown hair which is shaven on the sides. He sis standing in front of a brick wall outside the Farmhouse pub.
Mr Cainey said the incident was "devastating for everyone involved"

He said that his father - a former police officer - was walking their dogs when the explosion happened and rushed into the building to help the occupants out.

"It was instant panic from all the neighbours, everyone was running around in the street," Mr Cainey continued.

"No one was really thinking about anything but making sure everyone was safe."

The Avon Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze has since been "safely extinguished".

"We were called at 06:53 BST this morning to reports of a gas explosion in a residential home on Lancaster Road, Yate," it added in a statement.

"The explosion caused a fire, which has now been safely extinguished. A cordon has been put in place.

"Local people are asked to avoid the area while we deal with the incident."

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