Villagers move out after gas explosion

Jan 12 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

TWENTY homes were evacuated yesterday when a fire threatened to cause a gas explosion in a tranquil village.

Families living in Coalburns in Greenside, Gateshead, were forced from their houses as firefighters tackled a blaze behind Dixon’s Florist in Kyo Lane.

A huge explosion was heard when acetylene gas cylinders overheated at approximately 1.30am yesterday morning.

The explosion forced firefighters to get approximately 40 people out of their homes and into an emergency shelter which was set up at Greenside Social Club.

A 200-metre cordon was set up around the village amid fears that other gas cylinders might explode.

Karen Burnett, 47, who runs the Fox and Hounds pub in the village, spent the night in the emergency club sipping tea with her neighbours.

She said: “We had just gone to bed after watching a movie when we heard a sound like a gun going off.

“My partner went to investigate and found out the garage was on fire.

“Then there was the sound of a huge bang. Soon after that a fireman came around the doors and said we had to leave the village in case another cylinder exploded.”

The cordons were lifted at around 10.30am and villagers were allowed to return to their homes, as a full investigation gets under way.