#1
House seriously damaged about 20 minutes ago
These houses are in blocks of four (two facing Leyburne 2 backing onto Castlemount Rd)
One of those backing onto Castlemount Road.. Looks gutted but our fantastic fire boys seem to have prevented spreading.
No indication of injuries but police in last few minutes just closed off Leyburne Rd.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
thanks for informing us pat, our firepersons are always excellent, i would imagine they have closed off the road due to the possibilty of part of the house being unstable.
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
#3
I had just got home this afternoon at about 15.40 hrs, I was in the kitchen when there was this almighty bang, I knew instantly that it was very near and I thought that it was a bomb or a huge gas explosion. I ran upstairs to look out of the front bedroom window and I could see flames and thick black smoke bellowing up towards the sky. I immediately phoned 999 for the fire brigade. My neighbours who are quite elderly had ran into their front garden and were trying to see what it was, they seemed very frightened as they thought it was a bomb. I left the house and went to investigate. It was just terrifying to see the state of this house, the top windows had blown out and the firemen were stopping anyone going down Castlemount road in case of another explosion. They were already hosing down the huge flames. I asked if they knew if anyone was in the house and they said at that stage they didn't know. I hope and pray there was no one at home.
We may have some pictures later on.
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
#4
Oh my hope there was nobody in the house many years ago my sister lived at number 8 I remember the house very well always thought they were lovely little houses was Quite sad when my sister moved.
#5
As Collette says quit frigtening.I also heard the bang and then the black smoke.
Police lifted the roadblock at about 5.30pm as three firefighting units in attendance.As at 8.15pm fire investgators still on the scene and two appliances.
The house completely demolished and amazing as it is 25% of the building and the firefighters stopped anything spreading to the other 75%.
Hope someone with "technical" activity could take some pics.
I am told no casualties which I hope is correct
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#6
ColetteB managed to get pictures in the middle of all the melee...some of these are now on the frontpage. Will use an amalgam of Colette and Pats posts for frontpage copy shortly too.
Many thanks guys...well done Colette with the pictures..roving woman on the spot!
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
that main shot from colette is terrifying, what could have caused that sort of structural damage?
Guest 657- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,037
#8
It must have been very frightening to witness, I do hope no one was hurt.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
#9
Howard, judging by the picture, there was an explosion, as the whole window, being the weaker part of the structure, blew out, and also the attic roof was blown through, whereas the bricks below the window are completely intact. An explosion of "air" always sends pressure outwards and upwards, and will always break the weakest part of the structure in order to expand, which can result in the stronger parts remaing intact or only partially damaged. Hoping sincerely that no-one was injured, I can say that the damage is relatively restricted, as the weaker parts ie window and roof tiles, took the brunt and gave way.
Air explosions, such as gas, do not carry with them any components as a shell would, hence the absense of greater damage. obviously, we may assume that the windows were closed, so the gas could not escape slowly, and the preassure built up. very fortunate that the explosion did not take part on the lower floor, as this could have caused the house to receive much worse damage. As it is, the explosion found at least half of its outlet in the attic tiles!