Major incident declared after gas explosion in Lancashire

A major incident has been declared after a gas explosion at a residential area in Heysham, Lancashire.

Lancashire Fire said on Twitter that units were called to a row of terraced houses on Mallowdale Avenue in the early hours of Sunday and that firefighters were searching a collapsed property.

“A major incident has been declared after we (were) called to terraced houses on Mallowdale Avenue. It has been reported that there has been an explosion at a property and firefighters are searching the collapsed property,” Lancashire Fire said.

A major incident has been declared after we called to terraced houses on Mallowdale Avenue. It has been reported that there has been an explosion at a property and firefighters are searching the collapsed property.

— Lancashire Fire (@LancashireFRS) May 16, 2021

Lancashire Police said a safety cordon had been put in place and nearby residents had been evacuated in the town some 25 miles north-east of Blackpool.

“We are asking people to please avoid the entire area while we deal with this ongoing incident,” the force said.

We are currently at the scene of a suspected gas explosion on Littledale Avenue, Heysham. A safety cordon has been put in place and nearby residents have been evacuated. We are asking people to please avoid the entire area while we deal with this ongoing incident. pic.twitter.com/w70IJHeTAJ

— Lancashire Police (@LancsPolice) May 16, 2021

The North West Ambulance Service tweeted that it had also sent units to the scene, with a priority to “ensure people receive the medical help they need as quickly as possible”.

No information on injuries was immediately available.