The fire started in a garage on the Ashbourne Avenue side of Carlton Drive, Gwersyllt, Wrexham, and there were concerns about a number of gas cylinders in the garage which prompted the evacuation.

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>> Streets evacuated after gas cylinder fire at Wrexham


A special rest centre was set up for people that were forced to leave more than 100 homes in the vicinity of the fire.

Some people in the nearby houses outside the cordoned area also provided tea and cakes for their neighbours who could not go back home.

Ashbourne Avenue resident Jane Jones lives in the last house outside the cordon on the eastern side that wasn't evacuated.

She said: "We were quite lucky in that respect. I had been to my mum's house and when I got back, all this was happening and the road was cordoned off – we thought what is going on? I do feel sorry for those who had to leave their homes."

Four families spent the night at the rest centre at Gwersyllt Resource Centre and many others had to spend the night with friends and relatives.

Among those who could not return home until this morning was Marie Sharp, who lives on Ashborne Avenue. She said: "My husband met me off the bus and told me what was going on. I went to stay at my daughter's house last night."

The fire started at about 12.20pm on Tuesday. Two crews as well as the aerial ladder platform from Wrexham were sent to tackle the blaze.

Gases contained in the cylinders included oxygen, argon, liquified petroleum gas and acetylene.

Fire chiefs said fires involving cylinders are potentially very dangerous, putting the lives of firefighters at the incident and residents in the area at risk.

Because of this, firefighters worked to continually cool and monitor the cylinders through Tuesday night and into yesterday afternoon.

Kathleen Jones, of Ashbourne Avenue, was among those evacuated. She said: "We were allowed back at about 10.30pm. I've been watching it from the street.

"The firefighters got it under control very quickly and the evacuation was fine, it could have happened anywhere or to anyone."

Residents were able to return to their homes at various times during the day.


See earlier story

>> Streets evacuated after gas cylinder fire at Wrexham