Furniture hanging out of the exposed side of the house (Picture: Dave Nelson)
A man was left with serious burns after a house blew up in ‘gut wrenching bang’ caused by a suspected gas explosion.
He managed to escape the Wheatley Drive property in Longridge, near Preston, before police arrived, but the explosion left him critically injured.
The man and two others, who both have minor injuries, were taken to hospital.
Pictures show an entire side of the property missing, leaving its interior – bedding, furniture and a now-falling floor – exposed.
Neighbours who felt the explosion shake their homes were evacuated after the blast around 10.30am this morning.
One told Manchester Evening News: ‘It was so loud I thought it had come from my own house.’
Eight fire engines from across Lancashire attended the scene, along with specialist rescue teams.
The house is missing part of the roof after the explosion (Picture: MEN Media)
Some of the fire engines have left, but road closures remain in place (Picture: MEN Media)
They are expected to remain on the scene for some hours, although the scale of the response has since been stepped down.
Road closure remain in place in the area, which people are being urged to avoid
Police are investigating ‘the cause and circumstances that led to the suspected gas explosion’.
Lancashire Fire & Rescue said: ‘At 10:31 on 01 September, eight fire engines from Preston, Bamber Bridge, Penwortham, Longridge, Blackburn, Clitheroe, Leyland, Hyndburn and other specialist appliances including Urban Search and Rescue units, attended a reported gas explosion on Wheatley Drive, Longridge.
‘One casualty was taken to the hospital by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) paramedics.
‘Crews are likely to remain in attendance for some hours.’
Providing updates on X this afternoon, the service said: ‘We are flying a drone in the area to assist with our emergency response.
‘Please do not fly your own drone in the vicinity as this can disrupt our operations.
‘This incident has now been reduced to three pumps, who remain in attendance alongside Urban Search and Rescue colleagues.
‘Road closures are likely to remain in place for several hours. Please continue to avoid the area.’
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