HUGE FIRE SEES EIGHT HOMES AFFECTED
AHUGE fire in Bristol saw around 20 people evacuated from a block of flats yesterday morning.
It is believed the fire was caused by an electrical fault. Nobody was reported injured in the incident.
Avon Fire and Rescue Service was called to Ambrose Road in Cliftonwood yesterday morning, after a blaze took hold in a block of flats.
The fire broke out on the roof of the building and spread to a neighbouring property. Pictures and video footage from the scene showed a large fire burning and a huge cloud of black smoke rising into the air.
Between 15 and 20 people were evacuated in the early hours of the morning before the fire was put out at around 11am.
Ambrose Road and Crosby Row were closed, and people living nearby were warned to close their windows due to the smoke.
The fire service later said the cause of the fire was accidental due to an electrical fault.
Neighbour Marc Miller lives two doors down from where the fire started.
He said that he was sitting on his sofa watching TV when the fire alarm went off.
He said: “Next thing, a fireman is kicking on my door asking me to leave.
“We came out and saw the whole roof was well alight – it was incredible. It was like a bad dream and you think ‘is this really happening?’”
He added he understood some builders working nearby were the first ones to spot the fire and call 999.
He added: “We have been here for about an hour now and we can not go back in. The whole roof is gone and we have no idea when we will be allowed back in.”
The property affected is managed by housing association LiveWest.
James Reseigh, director of neighbourhoods for LiveWest, said: “The safety and wellbeing of our customers is our number one priority and we appreciate this is a stressful situation for those affected by the fire.
“Our teams were immediately on site to ensure our customers were fully supported and they have been there all morning.
“Eight homes have been affected by the fire and we have arranged for temporary accommodation as well as providing some immediate financial support.
“Residents have now been able to go into their homes to pick up some of their belongings.
“We would like to thank the fire brigade for the swift and effective way they dealt with the fire and we would also like to say thank you to the Rose of Denmark pub who kindly opened their doors this morning to provide our customers with breakfast and hot drinks.”