Following an explosion at a home in Burnley this afternoon, a youngster was taken to hospital with critical injuries.
After reports of a house fall, emergency services were dispatched to the residence on Sefton Terrace, a predominantly residential area a short distance from Burnley Manchester Road train station, shortly after midday.
An 18-year-old man with significant trauma has been evacuated to Royal Preston Hospital.
A female patient was brought to the Royal Blackburn Hospital for evaluation. Residents rushed to rescue them from the house following the blast, according to accounts.
Following the incident, which is reported to have affected residents living in many properties, emergency services are on the scene.
Several routes in the region have been urged to be avoided by the public.
‘Two ambulances, an advanced paramedic, an air ambulance, and an operations commander attended an incident following a 999 call at 12.11,’ stated a North West Ambulance Service spokesperson.
‘We took two patients to the hospital.’ An 18-year-old guy with significant trauma has been evacuated to Royal Preston Hospital. A female patient was sent to the Royal Blackburn Hospital for evaluation.’
‘We’re now dealing with an explosion in a property on Sefton Terrace, Burnley,’ Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service said on social media.
‘One individual was rescued and taken to the hospital by neighbors. Please stay away from the Sefton Terrace and Piccadilly Road area.
‘At the location, we have three fire engines and our urban search and rescue team.’ We’re coordinating with other emergency agencies, local authorities, and utility providers to secure the area and analyze the property’s structure.
‘Firefighters at the scene are presently removing coping stones from the gable end of the house with an aerial ladder platform to make the structure of the building safe.’
‘Please be aware that we are now dealing with a house collapse in Burnley,’ said a Lancashire Constabulary spokeswoman.
‘We were summoned to Sefton Terrace just after noon.’ Several properties have been evacuated, and emergency services such as police, fire, and ambulance are currently on the scene.
‘We are now requesting that people avoid the area, particularly near Piccadilly Road and Sefton Terrace, and that cars seek alternate routes if feasible.’
‘My understanding is that no one is trapped and that everyone has been accounted for,’ he continued.