Village rocked by blast

Mar 22 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

A MASSIVE explosion and fire ripped through a garage in a Northumberland village yesterday, causing the evacuation of dozens of homes.

The fire began at about 1.30am at the Wilson & Young Garage on Boundary Way, Seaton Sluice, where canisters of highly explosive acetylene gas were stored.

People living nearby reported seeing flames leaping into the sky and then a series of explosions which blew the roof off the building, showering debris on to surrounding streets.

At the height of the blaze more than 30 firefighters from Northumberland and Tyne and Wear Fire Services were at the scene.

No one was injured but a 200m cordon was set up around the site and about 30 families with homes in Clarence Street, Queens Road and parts of Southward were evacuated.

A reception centre was set up in Seaton Sluice Middle School for those forced to leave their homes. Some were allowed back by 11am, but others living closer to the garage had to stay away until 5pm amid fears more canisters could explode.

Residents whose homes overlooked the workshop were told to stay out of their gardens as it was feared parts of the damaged building could break free and become dangerous in the high winds.

The A193 through the village was closed for much of the day as the fire service worked to damp down the site. David Shannon, 21, and his girlfriend Louisa Simmons, 24, were evacuated from their home on Queen Street.

Mr Shannon told The Journal: “We were up having a few drinks with some friends when we heard a huge bang. I went outside and smoke was billowing over the houses in front of us. And the flames were leaping about two storeys high.

“Then the police came and told us to get out. It was quite scary but the emergency services did a great job.”

Steve Huntsman, 50, a resident of Southward, was one of the first to report the fire.

He said: “I was woken around 1.30am by a car alarm going off. I looked out of the window and saw the smoke pouring out of the building. Soon after that, the flames were leaping out, they must have been 100 feet high, and smoke was billowing down our street.

“I went out to investigate and call the fire brigade. They came soon after.

“Then there was an enormous explosion which rocked the house, everything was shaking. I was watching the building at the time and the roof must have been blown off 30 feet.

“I saw bits of the building land in the streets around here. We were lucky the wind was blowing in the direction it was or we would have been in danger.

“There were at least three separate explosions.”