Families evacuated over explosion fears

Jun 17 2009 by Gordon Robertson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

FAMILIES were evacuated in the middle of the night as a fire ripped through a garage and threatened to cause a major explosion.

Police ushered residents from around 100 homes in Coatdyke as firefighters tackled the inferno at Derek Stanners Panel Beaters, in Railway Road.

They set up a 200m exclusion zone to protect the public amid fears that gas cylinders in the workshop could explode.

Some residents spent the night in nearby Rochsolloch Primary School, sleeping on makeshift beds, and many were not allowed home until over 24 hours later.

Crews from Coatbridge fire station were mobilised at around 12.30am last Wednesday to tackle the fierce blaze.

They were met by “an extremely well developed fire” but quickly got the flames under control.

However, the industrial unit was discovered to contain several bottles of oxyacetylene, a gas used in welding, which made the blaze scene highly dangerous.

Fire chiefs made the decision to evacuate around 100 households in Deedes Street and Southburn Road.

A few residents were allowed to go back to their homes temporarily to pick up medication later that morning.

Some families were then allowed to return to their homes but those living from one to 11 Deedes Street had to stay out until the exclusion zone was declared safe.

All of the evacuated residents were back in their homes 24 hours after the incident.

No one was hurt during the carefully planned emergency procedures.

The A89 Airdrie to Coatbridge road was closed as was the railway linking Airdrie and Coatbridge Sunnyside stations.

Strathclyde Police and a fire investigation team are looking into the cause of the blaze.

Witnesses have said that a group of three or four men were spotted in the area before the fire started.

Police have not ruled out the possibility that the fire could have bee started deliberately.

A police spokesman said: “We are not ruling anything out at the moment and would like anyone with information to come forward.

“They can call Airdrie police on 01236 505100 or Crimestoppers if they wish to remain anonymous on 0800 555 111.”