‘The flames were as tall as trees’
70 VILLAGERS EVACUATED IN GAS SUBSTATION EXPLOSION
A PENSIONER said she feared for her life after a gas substation next to her home exploded.
Patricia Harvey, 78, who has lived on Pit Lane in Trowell for more than 50 years, thought her home was going to be destroyed.
More than 70 residents in the area were evacuated to Trowell Village Hall and Washington Drive Community Centre as Tuesday night’s blaze engulfed the street with thick black smoke and flames as “high as trees.”
Mrs Harvey had just finished talking to her sister-in-law on the phone at around 5.30pm when she saw thick smoke outside her living room window. She looked outside to see the gas substation next to her home on fire and immediately rang 999.
Fighting back tears, she told the Post: “There were flames as tall as trees. I feared for my life. I knew what the thing on fire was and I thought it was going to blow up. I have lived here for 56 years. I lost my
husband two years ago and I was worried about the photographs and memories.”
She said due to her mobility issues she was unable to escape her home and had to wait for fire officers to escort her out of the address.
“All I had was my walking stick, my walking frame and my house keys and they wrapped me in blankets. They said ‘for your age you are doing marvellous’ but I do not feel marvellous this morning. I feel angry. I want the substation moved now. I don’t want it there.”
Mrs Harvey stayed at a relative’s house while firefighters battled the blaze and was allowed to return to her property at 2.45am yesterday.
Kathy Brown, 63, who has lived in the area for 30 years, was evacuated from her home at about 7.45pm with her husband. They took refuge in the village hall.
She said: “I saw plumes of smoke going up the street. It was big and black. We walked to the end of the street and all you could see was smoke. We also heard some bangs. They really looked after us. We were allowed back at 1.30am.”
Janet Collingham, 73, who has lived across the road from the substation for 36 years with her family said: “At first there was a lot of smoke and then there was a couple of bangs. The second bang made the house shake and we had to shut all the windows. I was worried about the house because the flames had got bigger. We went to my son’s house. I feel they need to move that station. I am concerned about it now.”
The fire was stopped from spreading to her home and other properties on the street.
Councillors Don Pringle and
Richard Macrae were at the scene on Tuesday to make sure residents were safe.
Councillor Pringle said Trowell Village Hall was opened at 6.10pm, with more than 70 residents taking shelter there. He said one local businessman provided jacket potatoes to residents and the Post Office, Morrisons supermarket and village shop also came round with supplies. The Stapleford Community
Group helped deliver meals with help from the White Lion pub.
He said: “We had crews from Stapleford, Highfields, Ilkeston, a water carrier from Loughborough in attendance as well as being supported by our police and East Midlands Ambulance colleagues. We would like to thank local residents for their support whilst we dealt with the incident.”
Gas firm Cadent joined emergency services at the scene on Tuesday evening and have been carrying out emergency repair works in the area.
Detective Constable Tony Tonks, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “We’re working closely with fire service colleagues on this investigation and I’m appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the fire, any drivers who may have captured dashcam footage of the incident or who have any information that could aid us with our enquiries to please call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 682 of March 16. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
No injuries were reported.