Sponsored by
Families quit homes as gas fireball rages
RESIDENTS in Leeds were evacuated from their homes after a gas main burst into flames.
The blaze broke out just before 2pm yesterday in Beeston, close to the Tommy Wass pub and near a parade of shops and takeaways.
Flames from the main were at one stage reported to be 30ft high.
Police set up a cordon around the incident and closed Beeston ring road between Dewsbury Road and Park Wood Road.
Three homes close to the damaged main were evacuated. People living further away were allowed to remain in their properties but asked to keep their windows shut.
One eyewitness told the YEP: "The roads were all cordoned off but you could still see a huge orange ball of flame above the main. It looked really dramatic."
Gas distribution firm Northern Gas Networks was last night investigating the cause of the fire.
Engineers were also at the scene, excavating the road in an attempt to locate the gas pipe and turn it off.
Once supplies had been disconnected, workmen would move in to fix the leak, a company spokesman said.
Any escaped gas would naturally burn off, under the continued watch of firefighters, he added.
Describing the view from his pub, Tommy Wass landlord Michael Deane said: "There were huge flames, it was definitely burning big time.
"All the area was cordoned off – there were about 30 police there closing roads and directing traffic."
Christie Waite, who works as an operator for local cab firm Gee Gee Cars, said the flames were "burning really high".
She also said the company had been forced to divert its taxis because the main route to Middleton and its shopping area was out of action.
The road closure was expected to remain in effect until around 10pm.
It was not clear when gas supplies were likely to be restored to properties in the area.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
