One dead after huge gas explosion sparks ‘inferno’ at block of flats as three people including a firefighter are taken to hospital – amid fears more may have lost their lives in blaze
- Emergency services rushed to the scene on Redwood Grove, Bedford, today as onlookers heard screams
- Three people were taken to hospital with injuries following the blaze that engulfed the building
- Locals are being told to close their windows and avoid the area as the black smoke billowed into the sky
- Residents jumped from second-floor windows to escape the horror fire, witnesses said today
At least one person has died and three others including a firefighter were taken to hospital after an ‘inferno’ in a block of flats caused by a gas explosion.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service described the blaze on Redwood Grove, Bedford, as a ‘major incident’, while a local resident said they saw one person leap from a second-floor window to escape the burning building.
Bedfordshire Police at first said two people had been taken to hospital, one with serious injuries, as emergency services responded to the fire at the three-storey block of 20 flats, which has caused the building’s roof to collapse.
In a later update, East of England Ambulance Service (EEAS) said there had been three hospital admissions, one of whom was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with leg injuries.
The other two, one of whom was a firefighter, were taken to Bedford South Wing Hospital with smoke inhalation.
Bedfordshire Police Chief Superintendent John Murphy said it is possible more deaths will be discovered in the coming days as emergency services search the scene.
‘Very sadly we know that at least one person has passed away in the explosion today,’ Mr Murphy said.
‘There is a possibility that there will be more fatalities discovered in the coming days as we continue to search through the scene and a number of people, as my colleague from the fire services has identified, were injured as well today.’
It comes as two hero bricklayers who saved men jumping from the major gas explosion inferno told how they dragged injured victims to safety.
Michael Moxam, 45, and Mark Waggott, 37, were the first on the scene to help save victims when the flat blew up in Bedford at around 9.30am today in scenes they described as ‘pandemonium.’
Emergency services rushed to the scene after the three-storey residential building went up in flames – forcing residents to jump from windows to escape the roaring fire.
Footage shared on social media shows plumes of flames erupting through the block of 20 flats while fire engines showered the blaze with water.
The horror blaze was seen ripping through the roof of the building – which partially collapsed – as terrified onlookers heard screams from the scene.
The heroic pair said they arrived to find one man in his 20s unconscious on the ground after he is thought to have jumped from a second-floor window.
Michael and Mark saw a second man in his 50s ‘covered in blood and screaming in agony’ after he leapt from a window on the same floor, around 20 feet [six metres] high.
An aerial view of the building – which was destroyed in the major gas explosion this morning. Flames ripped through the roof and engulfed the block of flats, leaving three people injured. Fire, ambulance, and police services rushed to the scene in Bedford this morning
The block of 20 flats was gutted and destroyed in the horror blaze this morning, caused by a major gas explosion
Emergency services battled with the blaze today, while three people were rushed to hospital
Two heroic bricklayers Mark Waggott and Michael Moxam (pictured) were the first on the scene to help save victims when a flat blew up in Bedford at around 9.30am today in scenes they described as ‘pandemonium’
Mark said: ‘We drove over the bridge at around 9.40am and saw the smoke. We couldn’t hear any ambulances or fire engines so we went in to make sure everyone was OK.
‘We found one man in his 50s and one man in his 20s who had jumped out of a second-floor window. It was pandemonium. The younger guy was face-down and unconscious. The other was screaming in agony with blood on his arm. I think he’d broken his hip.’
Mark said they pulled the man in his 50s away from the building as they feared a further explosion at the building’s mains gas point.
Michael, who had blood on his trousers and shoes from helping the victims, said: ‘The heat of the flames was on you when you tried to pull them away. I was hearing crackles and bangs. We were worried about another explosion. In that situation you don’t think of nothing but helping people.
‘The explosion had blown up the building. The bricks had blown out and you could see inside. There was a lot of smoke and flames. A guy said two little girls were in the building but we couldn’t get inside. We passed the message on when the firefighters arrived.
‘The older guy went in an air ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The other guy, who injured his shoulder, went to Bedford Hospital.’
Currently, three people have been taken to hospital – one with serious injuries who has gone to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge. One of the injured victims was a firefighter.
One local resident in Bedford said they saw a person jumping from a second-floor window to escape the burning building.
They said: ‘I heard the explosion from my house round the corner.
‘I walked to town and saw the flames and also witnessed someone jump from the second-floor window whilst flames were blaring out.’
Locals have been warned to keep windows closed and avoid the area as thick black smoke was seen billowing through the air.
Firefighters on the scene are tackling the inferno, which has engulfed the residential block in Bedford
Residents have been told to keep their windows closed following the major gas explosion. Thick black smoke pictured billowing from the scene this morning
The roaring fire was seen ripping through the roof of the three-storey block
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed the fire on Redwood Grove was caused by a gas explosion.
They are currently tackling the blaze, which engulfed the residential block of flats after witnesses heard the explosion.
A statement read: ‘Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service are currently in attendance at a major gas explosion on Redwood Grove, Bedford.
‘There are currently 6 appliances, 2 water carriers, an incident command unit at the scene.
‘Please avoid the area and keep windows and doors closed.’
Buildings close to the horrific fire were also evacuated and police say they are working as quickly as they can to get people back into their homes.
An Emergency Assistance Centre has been set up by Bedford Borough Council, at The John Bunyan Centre in Bedford, for people who need support.
Adam Fisher, a 37-year-old sales worker whose office is nearby, said he heard a ‘huge explosion’ before witnessing ‘an inferno’ at the site and people screaming.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have said the fire on Redwood Grove was caused by a gas explosion
The gutted building after the gas explosion this morning
The destruction could be seen as firefighters battled the blaze
He said: ‘A huge explosion heard – everyone went to our work car park to see what was happening.
‘Our building is adjacent to the apartment complex – immediately an inferno was visible, huge smoke cloud billowing, people screaming and people frantically calling for emergency services.’
Alex Feltham, who witnessed the incident, said: ‘Block of flats has exploded near Redwood Grove, really horrible.
‘Hope everyone made it out. Air ambulance has arrived.
‘Was in the office next door, the whole place shook.
‘Thought the warehouse had collapsed, wasn’t until went outside that we’d seen the gaping hole in the roof of the flats. The fire spread so quickly. Police then Fire turned up quickly.’
Retired photographer John O’Reilly, who lives in a block of flats adjacent to the block where the fire was, said the blast knocked him off his feet and there were bricks strewn across the road.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have confirmed the fire on Redwood Grove was caused by a gas explosion
The 76-year-old, speaking at a police cordon along the road from the flats, said: ‘There was a loud explosion which knocked me off my feet.
‘I got dressed and walked out into the road and walked out into the road to find the adjacent block on fire.
‘There were bricks in the road so it was obviously a very large explosion to do that sort of damage.’
He said he did not know when he would be allowed back into his property.
An East of England Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We were called at 9.33am today to a significant fire at a block of flats in Redwood Grove, Bedford.
‘Three ambulances, the hazardous area response team, a tactical commander, three operations managers and the Magpas Air Ambulance were sent to the scene.
‘One person was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital for treatment for leg injuries, while two people, one of whom was a firefighter, were conveyed to Bedford Hospital South Wing with smoke inhalation.’
Bedfordshire Police said this morning: ‘Emergency services have responded to an explosion at Redwood Grove, Bedford this morning (Monday). This resulted in a significant fire at a three storey block of 20 flats, which has engulfed the whole building and caused a large portion of the roof to collapse.
‘There are two people who have been taken to hospital, one with serious injuries to Addenbrooke’s. Police, fire and the ambulance service all remain in attendance. We know people are keen to help, but would ask people to avoid the area and keep any doors and windows closed.
‘An Emergency Assistance Centre has been set up at The John Bunyan Centre in Bedford, for people who have been evacuated and need support An adjacent block of flats has also been evacuated and we are working to get people back in their homes as quickly as possible.’
Nearby Shackleton Primary School was evacuated as a result of the fire, with headteacher Andy George saying in a statement: ‘Following the fire in the Redwood Grove area of Bedford earlier today, pupils at Shackleton Primary have been sent home due to the school’s proximity to the incident.
‘All children are safe and the school is working with the emergency services.
‘The school expects to re-open tomorrow.’
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