this is going to be hard

just had a phone call asking if we had any spare heaters so we have sent two to my mates aunty hope people do the same.what atime to happen







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Gas could be off over Christmas


22/12/2008

THOUSANDS of people were facing the prospect of a miserable Christmas after a gas main explosion wreaked havoc.

The blast, in Rawtenstall, Lancashire, shot flames 50ft into the air and started a huge fire that knocked out electricity and gas supplies to large areas of Rossendale and forced the closure of the busy A56 Edenfield bypass.

And although electricity was set to be restored to 17,000 homes and businesses tonight energy bosses say they could not guarantee the gas supply would be back on in time for Christmas for thousands of properties in Bacup, Waterfoot, Rawtenstall, Newchurch and Crawshawbooth.

More than 200 homes were evacuated while emergency engineers and firefighters tackled the blaze.

National Grid, which had been on site on a planned operation when the blast happened, turned off the gas to 18,000 Valley homes for safety reasons.

A spokeswoman apologised for the inconvenience. She said every effort was being made to restore gas supplies as soon as possible and hoped properties would start being reconnecting by Wednesday. But she warned: "We may not be able to restore all supplies before Christmas Day.

"The safety of local people is our top priority. We are working with the local authority to identify people who need special help.

"We are appealing to people to be good neighbours and check on those they know to be elderly or infirm."

The fire damaged an electricity line owned by United Utilities and engineers shut off power to 17,000 homes so the blaze could be tackled by six fire engines and about 50 firefighters.

Repairs

A United Utilities spokeswoman said: "Engineers have made temporary repairs to the power line that was damaged by the fire from National Grid's gas main.

"However, there is still a risk that these repairs may not hold and power supplies could be lost again. If this happens United Utilities would rotate power for the next three to four days until a new emergency power line could be constructed.

"This would mean that 4,000 properties in the area would be re-energised for a period of two hours on a rota basis."

Greg Fitchett, of Holmeswood Park, was in his home about 80ft away from the site when the explosion happened, and phoned the emergency services.

He said: "When it happened it was unbelievable. It shook the house and all the windows."

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire Service, which set up a mobile command station at the scene, said the flames were extinguished at about 3pm which enabled Transco and United Utilities engineers to start repair work.

He said: `There seemed to have been a gas leak and the electricity pylon going over the top of it ignited the gas which caused the explosion.

"For the first hour or so we had to make sure everyone was safe and that the flames did not spread."

Rossendale council's one-stop shop and its offices in Futures Park and Stubbylee Hall, Bacup, were among those affected by the power cut. The main switchboard also went down.

An emergency relief centre, for those who had been evacuated from their homes, was set up at Kay Street Baptist Church in Rawtenstall.

It was later relocated to Oakenhead Day Centre, in Haslingden Old Road, Rawtenstall.

 

What a shame. Hope no one is injured.

 

stu wish we were closer to lend a hand,hope everyone can get some heat
of some kind,why do these things happen in winter?
thinking of them all

 

I reckon those poor folk will now discover the true spirit of Christmas as others rally round to help them..Good start Inter:cl-p:

 

So feel for these people, especially the ones with young families and also the eldery.

In different circumstances I would have gone and picked a couple up and brought them back to my home to spend Christmas/New Year. Ufortunately, it's not possible this year but you never know what may happen in the future.

Perhaps some 'locals' with a chair to spare could offer something.

cheers