Firefighters have been called to a suspected gas explosion at terraced House on Haynt Walk, Raynes Park this evening.
Crews arrived to find the front of the house had been blown out by the force of the blaze and there was a significant fire in progress. Thankfully a male left the property around 15 minutes before the explosion.
A cordon was put in place and around twenty people from neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution.
Station Manager Lee Sparks who is at the scene said;
“Crews were faced with a significant fire which on both floors of the property and punching out the rear and front of the house. As soon as the fire was extinguished specialist crews began a detection, identification and monitoring sweep of the area which means they were checking for any raised gas levels."
The Brigade were called at 1824 and the incident was under control by 2105. Fire crews New Malden, Wimbledon and Sutton fire stations atteneded the scene.
The cause of the explosion is believed to have been an uncapped gas pipe venting into the kitchen.