Residents evacuated due to danger of gas explosion
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The South Ealing Road (B455) is now open again both ways at the junction with the B4491 Pope's Lane. It had been closed due to a serious fire involving potentially explosive gas cylinders.
There was a 400 metre cordon in place around the building.
At round 01.00 on Friday police were called to reports of a fire at Kassco Food and Wine at 142 South Ealing Road. London Fire Brigade put out the fire but found an acetylene gas cylinders at the rear of the property affected by the fire. There were no injuries from the fire. On their advice a cordon was established and all premises within this area were evacuated.
Around 500 properties were affected. Residents of Creighton and Netherbury Roads were given the option of staying indoors or being evacuated to a reception centre at Ealing Town Hall at 4.30 in the morning. There were reports of several people with heart conditions suffering from the shock, and ambulances attended for those who were unable to move under their own steam. Roads further afield, such as Hereford Road, were advised that they could evacuate at 7.30 am, though many of them chose to remain at home.
Approximately 100 people chose to evacuate in the night, around 80 moving to Ealing Town Hall and the remainder going to nearby family and friends. At the Town Hall they were provided with blankets, light breakfast and a GP and district nurse were attendance.
Roads affected within the cordon were South Ealing Road, Ealing Lane, Popes Lane, Dorset Road, Creighton Road, Netherbury Road, Maple Grove, Lilac Gardens, Rose Gardens, Hawthron Gardens, Chesnut Grove, Temple Road, Weymouth Avenue, Bramley Road, York Road, Wellington Road, Julien Road, Dorset Road, Gloucester Road, North Road, South Road, Sunderland Road, Cherry Close, Temple Road, Airedale Road, Hereford Road
Little Ealing Primary School and Mount Carmel Catholic Primary School were just outside the cordon. Both schools were closed for the day. Ealing Borough Police are investigating.
September 30th, 2006