Bristol explosion: House almost completely destroyed in huge blast

Three people are in hospital after a suspected gas explosion at a house in Bristol.

Neighbours heard a huge bang and felt ‘loud shuddering’ after the explosion at a home on Lancaster Road in Yate shortly before 7am today.

The roof of the house was completely destroyed as flames ripped through the home, with the blaze now spreading to neighbouring homes.

While the cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed, Avon and Somerset Police say they suspect it was a gas explosion.

Around 40 people have been evacuated from neighbouring homes as a precaution, with some escorted from their homes in their dressing gowns.

Shocking pictures show the majority of the house has been razed to the ground, with just the porch still standing.

One neighbouring house in the terrace also has a badly damaged roof, with just the chimney stack left standing, with the home on the other side missing a significant number or roof tiles.

The fire has since been ‘safely extinguished’, Avon Fire and Rescue said, but there’s still a cordon in place.

Charlie Daines, a neighbour who ran to help those involved, spoke to a woman who worried she had lost her dog in the blast.

When she arrived an older couple were being helped from the house that exploded, and others were trying to smash a window at a neighbouring house to help an infirm woman escape.

‘It felt like it took forever for the fire brigade to come but it can’t have been more than a few minutes,’ Charlie said.

‘We just sorted people out until the fire brigade and ambulance were there

‘The lady whose house exploded, 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”.

‘I just felt so sorry for them, because they were shaking so badly.’

It’s thought the dog was found having run about half a mile away from the blast.

Charlie added: ‘I’m a pet owner myself, so I’m just glad the dog’s OK because they haven’t got anything left.’

A spokesperson for the fire brigade said: ‘We were called at 6.53am to reports of a gas explosion in a residential home on Lancaster Road, Yate, this morning.

‘The explosion caused a fire, which has now been safely extinguished.

‘We’ve put a cordon in place and a number of people have been evacuated as a precaution, they are being supported at the scene.

‘Three people with non-life threatening injuries have been taken to hospital, and a fourth person has been treated by the ambulance service at the scene.

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

A police spokesperson said: ‘Officers are supporting Avon Fire and Rescue Service at the scene of a suspected gas explosion in Lancaster Road, in Yate, at 6.50am this morning.

‘Three people have been taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening or life changing.

‘A fourth person has sustained minor injuries and was seen to by the ambulance service.

‘A cordon has been put in place and a number of properties have been evacuated. A refuge centre has been set up at a nearby public house.

‘Members of the public are being advised to avoid the area and keep the roads clear while emergency services are at the scene.’

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