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Homes evacuated after major fire Evacuated homes destroyed by fire
(20 minutes later)
Around 100 people in Newport have spent the night away from their homes which were gutted in a fire which broke out in the Maindee area of the city. Firefighters are continuing to dampen down the scene of a fire which spread from a joinery workshop to destroy a row of houses in Newport.
The fire began in a joinery workshop on Marlborough Road on Tuesday afternoon and spread to 12 houses on the street. The homes were evacuated at around 1500 BST on Tuesday and 100 people had to spend the night elsewhere.
More than 250 homes were still without power on Wednesday after the blaze reached an electricity substation. Part of the Maindee area of the city, near Marlborough Road, remains sealed off on Wednesday.
Many residents took refuge in Newport leisure centre while others spent the night in hotel accommodation. Around 250 homes are without power after fire reached a nearby electricity substation.
The blaze broke out at about 1445 BST on Tueday at the Limebright Joinery and took several hours to bring under control. The blaze broke out at about 1445 BST on Tuesday at the Limebright Joinery and took several hours to bring under control.
It quickly spread to the terrace of houses and then to the electircity substation and main south Wales to London railway line behind them, cancelling some train services and causing delays to other. I know its not nice for people who've had their homes damaged by fire, it must be awful. But there is no loss of life and no injuries Councillor Christine Jenkins
I've known people on this street for more than 20 years and their homes have been totally destroyed Ashad Miah It quickly spread to the terrace of houses and then to the electricity substation and main south Wales to London railway line behind them, cancelling some train services and causing delays to other.
On Wednesday, trains were unaffected although there were restrictions for motorists in the Maindee road area. Gwent Police have said the fire began in a wood chip burner in the joinery.
Those forced to leave their homes were taken to the Newport Leisure Centre, from where some people were taken to local hotels, while others spent the night with relatives or friends.
Police, who still have a cordon in place around the burnt-out street, said the fire began in a wood chip burner in the joinery.
It was not being treated as suspicious, and no-one was reported injured.It was not being treated as suspicious, and no-one was reported injured.
Some residents were returning to homes on the edge of the road and Newport Council officials are to meet others to talk about rehousing them later on Wednesday. Some residents were returning to homes on the edge of the road and Newport Council officials are to meet others to talk about re-housing them.
Maindee councillor Christine Jenkins said the fact that no-one was injured in the blaze had to be welcomed. Maindee Councillor Christine Jenkins said it was "lucky" no one was injured in the blaze.
I suppose we can thank our lucky stars nobody's been injured Resident Colin Price "We've had a major fire. We've got no injuries, no fatalities, we're lucky and that is the way we have to look at it. A fire this size and to have no injuries with the population we have in Maindee, we're very lucky indeed.
"We've had a major fire . We've got no injuries, no fatalities, we're lucky and that is the way we have to look at it. A fire this size and to have nmo injuries with the population we have in Maindee, we're very lucky indeed. I've known people on this street for more than 20 years and their homes have been totally destroyed Ashad Miah
"I know its not nice for people who've had their homes damaged by fire, it must be awful. But there is no loss of life and no injuries.""I know its not nice for people who've had their homes damaged by fire, it must be awful. But there is no loss of life and no injuries."
Plumes of black smoke were seen pouring from the building by witnesses shortly after the fire was discovered.Plumes of black smoke were seen pouring from the building by witnesses shortly after the fire was discovered.
Ashad Miah, 26, who captured the fire on his camcorder, said: "I heard all this noise, and then the sirens of the fire engines, so I walked out of the house and saw a lot of smoke billowing from the back of the houses in front of mine.Ashad Miah, 26, who captured the fire on his camcorder, said: "I heard all this noise, and then the sirens of the fire engines, so I walked out of the house and saw a lot of smoke billowing from the back of the houses in front of mine.
I suppose we can thank our lucky stars nobody's been injured Resident Colin Price
"I grabbed my camcorder and started recording, and the fire just kept spreading."I grabbed my camcorder and started recording, and the fire just kept spreading.
"There were loads of bangs and noises - windows shattering and pieces of wood and plastic landing on the street. People in the road were having to duck out of the way."There were loads of bangs and noises - windows shattering and pieces of wood and plastic landing on the street. People in the road were having to duck out of the way.
"When I stood outside my house I could feel the heat from the fire and that's when I started to feel really scared, especially because my six-week-old daughter was in the house and I thought 'what if it spreads?'"When I stood outside my house I could feel the heat from the fire and that's when I started to feel really scared, especially because my six-week-old daughter was in the house and I thought 'what if it spreads?'
"The heat was really intense and the smoke was suffocating. I've never seen anything like it in my life."The heat was really intense and the smoke was suffocating. I've never seen anything like it in my life.
"I've known people on this street for more than 20 years and their homes have been totally destroyed by this fire - they've lost everything, and I don't even think some of them are insured.""I've known people on this street for more than 20 years and their homes have been totally destroyed by this fire - they've lost everything, and I don't even think some of them are insured."
Gwent Police set up a cordon to keep people away from the fireGwent Police set up a cordon to keep people away from the fire
Another resident Colin Price was asked to leave home.Another resident Colin Price was asked to leave home.
He said he had never seen so much think, dense smoke.He said he had never seen so much think, dense smoke.
"I was surprised to be evacuated but when I could smell the smoke and smell the furmes, I though 'yes perhaps we ought to'. "I was surprised to be evacuated but when I could smell the smoke and smell the fumes, I though 'yes perhaps we ought to'.
"I suppose we can thank our lucky stars nobody's been injured.""I suppose we can thank our lucky stars nobody's been injured."
Electricity company Western Power Distribution said it would take "some time" to restore power supplies.Electricity company Western Power Distribution said it would take "some time" to restore power supplies.