VIDEO: Homes evacuated in Pontypool after car fire spreads to gas main

A SPOKESMAN for Wales & West Utilities said: "We were alerted to reports of two vehicles on fire near to a gas supply pipe outside a property on Wainfelin Avenue in Pontypool this evening (Sunday 2 Oct) and immediately sent an engineering team to the scene.

"On arrival, our engineers found that the vehicle fire had spread to the nearby gas pipe.

"Working alongside the fire service, our engineers cut off the gas supply and did all necessary checks to make the area safe.

"We have now left the area and will be returning tomorrow to carry out further maintenance work.

“If anyone smells gas, thinks they have a gas leak, or suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, they should call us on 0800 111 999 and our engineers will be there to help, day or night.”

UPDATE: 10pm

Residents of Wainfelin Avenue have returned to their homes and have been told that the gas pipe is under control.

Firefighters have left the scene and Western Power Distribution are working to restore power to houses affected by the blaze.

UPDATE: 9.50pm.

Works ongoing to make make gas pipe safe.

UPDATE: 9.45pm.

Video update of earlier blaze from resident Ian Gilbert.

UPDATE: 9.30pm

Maintenance works on gas main currently underway at Wainfelin Avenue.

UPDATE: 9.22pm

Eyewitnesses have stated Wales and West Utilities are in attendance using machinery to dig up the road and access the gas main.

Ian Gilbert said: "The gas main is still on fire and the fire brigade are there making sure nothing else reignites." 

UPDATE: 9.16pm

An eyewitness who does not wish to be named, who lives nearby, was alerted to the fire by what sounded "like a huge firework display" at around 7pm.

"We walked across to see what was going on and saw the fire crews running around," she said.

"They cordoned off part of the street and started to run back because there was more firework sounds coming from the cars."

UPDATE: 9.14pm

Close-up pictures of the damage

UPDATE: 9.10pm

More pictures of the scene from Wainfelin Avenue resident Ian Gilbert

UPDATE: 9pm

A South Wales Fire and Rescue spokeswoman confirmed crews are cooling the exterior of the building whilst utility services deal with the leaking gas pipe.

UPDATE: 8.20pm

PONTYPOOL residents have been evacuated from their homes after a car fire spread to a gas main.

Several crews from South Wales Fire and Rescue attended the blaze in Wainfelin Avenue Pontypool at around 7pm this evening.

Eyewitnesses describe being evacuated from their homes as flames spread from a car fire to an gas main and electric box, causing power outages and sparks shooting “10 feet into the air”.

Fire fighters have extinguished the two car fires and are now tackling the gas main fire.

A South Wales Fire and Rescue spokeswoman confirmed the fire involved four properties and eight residents have been evacuated.

Ian Gilbert, 37, of Wainfelin Avenue, was in his front room four doors down when he noticed people standing outside in the street.

“When I looked around I saw it was a blaze and fire engines arrived shortly after. I think they had problem accessing the road as it is quite narrow.

“As they started dousing the fire sparks started shooting up 10 feet into the air and after that they started to hose the cars.

“There are still flames about 10-feet high and the gas main is burning out as we all stand outside."