Update on cause of Bootle house explosion

An update has been given after a house exploded in Bootle. At around 12.43pm yesterday (Thursday November 28), a two-storey property on Benedict Street, Bootle, explodedleaving residents who heard the "loud bang" wondering if a "lorry had dropped from the sky".

Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service crews arrived to find the terraced house on fire, with four firefighters entering the property wearing breathing apparatus and rescuing two people who were conscious and breathing. Another two people were already out of the property and three of them were taken to hospital.

A section of Benedict Street was cordoned off for several hours as Cadent and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service investigated the scene. Smashed glass and debris could be seen littering the road as shocked neighbours watched on.

But the ECHO understands the cause of the explosion is not believed to be related to the gas network and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service continue to investigate what caused the incident.

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It is understood no-one was seriously injured in the explosion and Merseyside Police are not investigating. One man, who lives only a few doors down from the explosion, said: "I was playing the new Call of Duty when it became real life. I thought a wardrobe had dropped, heard a commotion and looked outside. It was hard not to hear.”

Another man added that the sound of the explosion was "prolonged" and "lingered". A woman said she saw "a load of people run out of the property", while one man said he “thought a lorry had dropped from the sky” before hearing “screams” outside. He added that it was "lucky" that most children were in school.

A "big bang" was heard by one woman just after 12.30pm. She told the ECHO: "I heard a bang but I thought it was work fellas in the street. Then I checked my Ring Doorbell and saw a fire engine going down the street.

"I went outside and saw a load of people walking past so I headed down the street and saw that the front of a house had been blown off. It was shocking.

She said emergency services were on the scene very quickly, adding: "One ambulance arrived, then more came along. It looks like someone was taken to hospital."

A statement from Merseyside Fire and Rescue said: "Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is in attendance at an incident on Benedict Street, Bootle. Crews were alerted at 12.43 to reports of an explosion and they arrived on scene at 12.49. Three fire engines are currently on scene.

"Crews arrived to find a two-storey property with the ground floor involved in fire. Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the property and rescued two people, who were conscious and breathing. Another two people were already out of the property.

"Gas and electrics have been isolated and the fire has been extinguished. The four people involved were handed over to North West Ambulance Service to be checked over and three of them have been conveyed to hospital. Cadent engineers are on scene carrying out tests in the involved property and neighbouring properties."