Police are now looking into the cause of an explosion at a block of flats in Skelmersdale.
Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, the North West Ambulance Service, and Lancashire Police rushed to Tanfields at around 6pm on Tuesday following an explosion at a flat. Once at the scene emergency services found a block of flats completely blown apart.
Pictures sent to the ECHO show the back of the flats, and you can see a fridge freezer hanging from the wreckage along with a two seater couch. In an update today, Lancashire Fire and Rescue said people who had to be evacuated were provided with alternative accommodation.
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A spokesperson for the fire service confirmed Lancashire Police have taken over the incident and Urban Search and Rescue will soon begin helping with the removal of debris. A spokesperson for Lancashire Fire and Rescue said: "All residents who were displaced were provided with alternative accommodation and a handover has been completed with Lancashire Constabulary, who have now taken over this incident.
"Urban Search and Rescue will soon begin assisting with the removal of debris." Pictures sent to the ECHO show the back of the flats, and you can see a fridge freezer hanging from the wreckage along with a two seater couch.
A total of 15 people were evacuated from their homes overnight following the explosion. One eyewitness who lives behind the flats said they heard a ‘loud bang’ that ‘shook the windows’ at around 6pm on Tuesday.
They said: “I was just sat in my house when I heard this loud bang, it shook the windows. I didn’t think anything of it and then I started hearing sirens and a helicopter.
"I looked out my window and saw loads of blue lights flashing. I went out the back of my house and saw the back wall of the flats had exploded. Then police started taping off the road."
Following the explosion, people rushed to offer food, spare bedrooms and other items to those impacted by the incident.
