At 1634 on 23rd April 07 the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service received the first of numerous calls to a large explosion in the Horsefair area of Malmesbury.
Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service Control immediately despatched three Fire engines and supplemented these with further fire engines and support vehicles as the seriousness of the incident became apparent. At the height of the incident 35 fire-fighters were on scene.
Fire crews, who arrived within four minutes, were faced with one terraced house completely destroyed and a smouldering fire in the debris. Six adjacent properties and 15 vehicles have also been severely damaged by the explosion. A number of residents have been evacuated to the local sports centre for shelter, by the police..
An elderly gentleman is reported as being in the building with his dog at the time of the explosion but both have been very fortunate to escape with the elderly gentleman receiving minor burns to his hands and a head injury. He has been treated at the scene and taken to hospital for a check up.
The building is potentially unstable and the Local Authority Building Control Officer is working in conjunction with the Fire Service to assess it.
Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service are working in conjunction with other support agencies at the scene to resolve the incident and make the scene safe.
Investigations into the cause are ongoing.
Duty Press Officer
