BBC News, Bristol
Peter NooneNeighbours have rallied together after a home exploded with an “almighty bang” near Bristol following a suspected gas leak.
The building on Lancaster Road, in Yate, was completely demolished in the incident. Three people were taken to hospital, and more than 40 residents were evacuated from their homes after flames spread to neighbouring properties.
Neighbour Charlie Daines, whose home backs onto the house, said she was stood in the garden when it happened.
“There was an almighty explosion – it was the house shooting up into the air,” she said. “The house was just gone in seconds. Our main concern was, ‘is everybody okay, do we need to help?’,” adding: “We just ran straight around there.”
Ms Daines said she saw one resident from a neighbouring home struggling to get out.
“They eventually came down the stairs with their keys, but they were still in such a panic they kept on dropping them.
“I was still shaking when we were evacuated it was horrendous. It went right through your body,” she added.
Rich Cainey, who lives next door to the house, said he initially “thought it was an earthquake”.
“I got shook out of bed – literally,” he said.
“I saw the chimney breast coming crashing down onto our roof so I got up and went to the landing.
“The whole house next door was demolished. There was nothing there, just the remnants of a house.”
Mr Cainey said he immediately went with his dad to help their neighbours.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. I’m waiting for the shock to kick in, but I’m not there yet.
“My mum is in pieces at the moment,” he added.
Since the incident, nearby Adam View Care home has offered its premises to help anyone struggling without access to their home.
“We want to offer a place to make coffees, to make arrangements and just have some shelter, ” said Daniel Glover Winfield, from the care home.
“We just want to support anyone in any way that we can.
“We’ll be opening our doors for as long as it takes. If there’s anything we can do we will.”
The Avon Fire and Rescue Service said the blaze has since been “safely extinguished”.
A cordon that was in place on the street has also been lifted.
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 were not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.
Steve Edwards, who lives nearby, said he was still in shock.
“I thought something had happened in the house,” he said. “There was a god almighty bang and I went out the front door.
“I’m just in shock really, you wake up thinking it’s going to be a lovely sunny day and next you’re being told to leave your house.
“I’m just very sad for the people whose house it was.”
Alan Monaghan, Liberal Democrat councillor on Yate Town Council, says he was watching TV when he thought he heard a “door slam” upstairs in his house.
“It’s unbelievable. I could see a house which had been engulfed and we could see the fire service doing their best to save the house, but struggling.”
Mr Monaghan says he was “impressed” by how fast the emergency services arrived.
He said he had seen people in dressing gowns being escorted out of their homes.
“A lot of residents were out in utter shock. They couldn’t believe it’s happening.
“Some people were quite distressed.”
