Woman injured and house in ruins as 'explosion' causes fire forcing evacuations

02 February 2024 , 07:21

1032     0

Woman injured and house in ruins as 'explosion' causes fire forcing evacuations

A woman was rushed to hospital as fire ripped through a house in Cheltenham after an explosion that left the property in ruins.

Emergency services rushed to the scene in the Springbank area of the town on Thursday night and multiple neighbouring homes had to be evacuated.

Dramatic footage shows flames and smoke engulfing the area with fire crews working on the home, believed to be a bungalow, that had been reduced to rubble The Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) was still at the scene of the fire this morning.

An explosion was first heard by residents and then a search and rescue operation was launched at the home on Springbank Way. The injured woman was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital.

One resident said: "Big explosion and fire with loads of blue lights near my house." Another added: "There was a house explosion on Springbank Way."

Firefighters offered £1,000 a shift to cross picket line during upcoming strikes

The fire also led to the closure of a key road in the area. Traffic and travel site Inrix reports: "A4013 Princess Elizabeth Way in both directions closed due to building fire from Coronation Square to A4019 Tewkesbury Road."

The fire at the property (Lukas Kepinski)

Last night, the fire service stated: "GFRS are in attendance at a building collapse at Springbank Way, Cheltenham, We have a multiagency attendance with police, fire, and ambulance services plus specialist search and rescue teams from Avon FRS.

The house has been left in ruins (Lukas Kepinski)

"One female casualty has been treated on scene and taken to hospital, surrounding properties have been evacuated. At present crews are carrying out search and rescue plus extinguishing pockets of fire and will remain on scene for some considerable time."

The scene following the fire (Lukas Kepinski)

People had been urged last night to avoid the area while residents were asked to keep their doors and windows shut, reported Gloucestershire Live. The fire service added: "Please be aware that GFRS are in attendance at an incident in the Springbank area of Cheltenham. Please avoid the area at this time. And could we kindly request that all residents keep their doors and windows shut. Thank you."

Last night a Gloucestershire Police spokesperson said: "We had an emergency 999 call come through at 9.48pm alerting us to a fire in Springbank Way in Cheltenham. Police attended as a grade one emergency response and police are still on the scene. We believe a bungalow is on fire and this is an evolving incident."

Tim Hanlon