Neighbours' shock as fire destroys garages
People in a Shropshire street say they are lucky to be alive after flames ripped through a garage and sheds, destroying cars and other property.
Three cars, one garage and four garden sheds were destroyed in the blaze at Brownlow Road, Ellesmere.
Another two cars and property in gardens were damaged by the heat. About 18 fire- fighters battled for more than two hours to put out the blaze from 5am until 7.15am yesterday morning.
See also: Cars destroyed as blaze breaks out in garages
It is not yet known how the fire started. Barbara Pritchard lives in one of the three homes affected. Her garage was destroyed, along with her husband's tools for work.
She said: "The firemen were worried because they feared gas bottles in the garages may explode.
"It was all very shocking and frightening." Mrs Pritchard said it was upsetting to watch her possessions go up in smoke but that the important thing was nobody was injured.
She said: "We've been badly affected but the house next door has been hardest hit. They have lost cars and are very upset.
"We had all my husband's work equipment inside. All the tools are gone. We had bikes, golf clubs and everything else people have in their garages and it's all gone."
Keith Bellis said: "I was asleep and woke up when I heard a loud bang. I thought it was a gunshot. I thought someone was in my back garden shooting rabbits the noise was so loud.
"I put the blind up and I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. There were flames as big as the house – they were enormous."
Watch manager Steve Moorhouse said: "LPG Calor gas cylinders were involved but there were no explosions as they were controlled. Three cars were destroyed, two cars damaged by heat, one garage and four garden sheds destroyed by fire."
