Date: 18th October, 2017
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is currently in attendance in Market Place, Chippenham where an explosion happened earlier this evening (18 October).
A 999 call was received at 6.12pm to say there had been an explosion in a third floor flat within a mid terraced building.
As it wasn’t known if anyone was in the affected building, five fire engines were initially sent, from Chippenham, Corsham (two), Calne and Malmesbury, supported by an incident command vehicle from Devizes, the heavy rescue unit from Trowbridge and an aerial appliance with supporting fire engine from Bath.
By 6.55pm, everyone who could have been in the building was accounted for – one man suffering from serious burns has been taken to Southmead Hospital in Bristol by South Western Ambulance Service.
The Service is now downscaling its presence, although investigations into what happened will continue for some time.
Volunteers from the British Red Cross are attending to support those affected by the blast, and a building control officer from Wiltshire Council has been requested to check the integrity of the property, which has suffered significant structural damage.
A cordon has been put in place by the Blue Cross charity shop to St Marys Street by the Tesco junction and up to the Market Place by the small short stay car park and Timber Street. The buildings within this cordon are being evacuated. Drivers should avoid the area this evening.
The Service is working with Wilshire Police to determine the cause of the explosion and ensure that the area is safe.