Residents evacuated as gas main ignites outside Chester school

Chester residents were evacuated from their homes on Friday evening (June 21) after a gas main caught fire. There were no injuries in the fire, which ignited around 8.16pm on Dee Banks, directly outside Dee Banks School, Great Boughton.

A large number of homes remain without gas today (June 24), according to Cadent Gas. Video taken Friday evening shows a fireball outside the Red House and Dee Banks School, a special educational needs school, with flames leaping high above surrounding houses.

Major works have been underway in Huntington since January to lay a new water pipeline between Huntington Water Treatment Works and Boughton Water Treatment Works, along Chester Road, Dee Banks and Sandy Lane. Dee Banks had been closed, with water pipeline work ongoing by utility company Severn Trent just metres from the scene of the fire.

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Two fire engines raced to the scene shortly after 8.15pm after receiving "multiple reports" of the fire. Firefighters said a "medium sized gas main" leaked and ignited.

Police assisted in evacuating nearby properties, with all residents accounted for, according to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. The fire raged for around four hours before the gas supply was isolated and the fire extinguished around 12.20am on Saturday, with residents allowed back to their properties.

Cadent engineers remain at the scene today, with free hot food put on for residents left without gas. Huntington residents will be reminded of disruption in January, when the village was plunged into darkness on multiple days due to power cuts.

There were five power cuts in six days between January 2 and January 8, 2024, affecting parts of the village. The parish council estimated 500 homes were affected.

Local resident Andrew Boycott described Cadent communications as "excellent" throughout the incident, adding residents were "left in the dark in more ways than one" during the January power cuts.

Before 9pm Friday, a Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "North West Fire Control received multiple reports of a fire on Dee Banks, where extensive works are underway to install new water pipes. Firefighters have confirmed that a medium sized gas main has leaked and ignited.

"The flames are not affecting nearby houses or the school, but as a precaution residents in neighbouring properties have been evacuated. All residents are accounted for and there are no injuries.

"Firefighters are using two hose reel jets and a covering water jet to confine the flames and protect a parked van from the heat. Gas engineers are on their way to the scene to shut off the supply.

"The road is already closed because of the ongoing works, but residents are kindly asked to stay away while crews deal with the incident."

At 12.20am, a spokesperson added: "The gas supply has now been isolated and the fire is extinguished. Crews remain at the scene and are using water jets to continue cooling the surrounding area.

"A cordon is still in place, but residents who were evacuated are being allowed back to their properties."

In a statement, Cadent said: "On Friday 21st June 2024, Cadent attended an emergency situation in the Dees Bank area of Great Boughton, Chester, where reports had been received that a gas main was on fire. As a result of this incident, the gas supply feeding into the main needed to be cut off so that repair work could be carried out.

"Engineers are currently working in the area to make everything safe, but there now follows the process of recommission and re-pressurise the local network which will take some time. We are aware that this is affecting a large number of residents and our teams will be on hand to manage the situation, and we will be working with the local community to support our customers."

CheshireLive approached Cheshire West and Chester Council and Severn Trent for comment.

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