Fire blasts manhole cover out of ground

AN eyewitness had described the moment an electrical fire erupted from a drain and the manhole cover was blown out of the ground in Throckley.

Keith Henderson, who lives 50 yards from where the fire first erupted out of Hexham Road, watched as flames and smoke billowed from underground.

He said: “The first manhole, which is about 50 yards from my house, the top blew off and there was palls of smoke and flames pouring out of it.

“The fire brigade arrived and they’ve cordoned the road off.

“Then, about half an hour after they arrived, the other manhole burst into flames, so there was smoke and a few flames coming out of that one.”

The fire service managed to get the blaze under control, but residents and shops were left without power.

Several businesses along Hexham Road had to close after losing power, with the power cut reaching as far as Bargain Booze towards the end of street.

Staff at Dhillons’s Fish and Chips said: “All we saw was the fire in the road. Our power has been off since 5.30pm — it’s a real loss of earnings on Friday night.”

A Northumbria Police spokesman said that there is no danger to the public, and that they suspect the fire was caused by a power surge but that investigations were ongoing.

He added: “Officers will remain in the area this evening to reassure anyone in the area who has any concerns.”