At least two people have been injured, one seriously, after a gas explosion caused an “inferno” at a block of flats. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service described the blaze on Redwood Grove, Bedford, as a “major incident”, while a local resident said they saw one person leap from a second-floor window to escape the burning building.
Bedfordshire Police confirmed two people have been taken to hospital, one with serious injuries, as emergency services continue to respond to the fire at the three-storey block of 20 flats, which has caused the building’s roof to collapse.
Adam Fisher, a 37-year-old sales worker whose office is nearby, said he heard a “huge explosion” before witnessing “an inferno” at the site and people screaming.
“A huge explosion heard – everyone went to our work car park to see what was happening,” he told the PA news agency.
“Our building is adjacent to the apartment complex – immediately an inferno (was) visible, huge smoke cloud billowing, people screaming and people frantically calling for emergency services.”
Mr Fisher shared footage on Twitter which shows plumes of flame erupting from the building as fire engines showered the blaze with water. Another Bedford resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they saw a person jumping from a second-floor window to escape the burning building.
“I heard the explosion from my house round the corner,” she told PA. “I walked to town and saw the flames and also witnessed someone jump from the second-floor window while flames were blaring out.”
The fire service said in a statement: “Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service are currently in attendance at a major gas explosion on Redwood Grove, Bedford.
“There are currently six appliances, two water carriers, an incident command unit at the scene. Please avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed.”
Bedfordshire Police said police, fire and ambulance service all remained at the scene shortly after midday on Monday.
“(The fire) has engulfed the whole building and caused a large portion of the roof to collapse,” it said in a statement. “An emergency assistance centre has been set up by Bedford Borough Council, at the John Bunyan Centre in Bedford, for people who have been evacuated and need support.
“An adjacent block of flats has also been evacuated and we are working as quickly as we can to get people back into their homes as quickly as possible.”
Retired photographer John O’Reilly, who lives in a block of flats adjacent to the block where the fire was, said the blast knocked him off his feet and there were bricks strewn across the road.
The 76-year-old, speaking at a police cordon along the road from the flats, said: “There was a loud explosion which knocked me off my feet. I got dressed and walked out into the road and walked out into the road to find the adjacent block on fire.
“There were bricks in the road so it was obviously a very large explosion to do that sort of damage.” He said he did not know when he would be allowed back into his property.
A nearby primary school has been evacuated as a result of the fire on Redwood Grove. Andy George, headteacher at Shackleton Primary School said: “Following the fire in the Redwood Grove area of Bedford earlier today, pupils at Shackleton Primary have been sent home due to the school’s proximity to the incident.
“All children are safe and the school is working with the emergency services. The school expects to re-open tomorrow.”
British Red Cross workers are among those helping residents at a sports hall around a mile from Redwood Grove, which is being used as an emergency assistance centre. Around 20 people were at the John Bunyan Centre by 2pm, said Sarah Stevens, manager for community safety and resilience for Bedford Borough Council.
She said the “majority” of people had “gone to friends and family so they’re safe and settled”. Ms Stevens said staff were assessing whether people would be given the option to stay in the hall overnight or offered “other forms of emergency accommodation”.
“Hot food is on site, everyone’s been offered food, we’re working through lists of needs for people, medical requirements, clothing,” she said.
