Dramatic video shows ‘terrifying’ moment residents flee after explosion
Ring Doorbell footage shows residents fleeing after explosion (Image: Kelsey Dootson)
A dramatic video from Ring Doorbell footage shows the terrifying moment residents flee after an explosion in Blackburn[1].
At 7.15pm yesterday (June 10), four fire engines rushed to the scene of a fire[2] in an industrial park in Kelly Street, Blackburn where two curtain side trailers and a van were set alight.
The video was taken from a flat opposite the industrial park, and shows large plumes of black smoke rising from the fire before a series of explosions.
One of the explosions was so powerful, it shattered the window of Kelsey Dootson’s home leaving the resident in fear of her whole flat going up in flames.
Recounting the terrifying moment last night, Kelsey said: “When I heard the explosion, I didn’t know what it was. We didn’t know if it was the lorries exploding or something else.
“At that point, our window was cracked so I didn’t know if the fire was going to set the curtains alight and spread.”
In the video, onlookers are running away from the scene after the explosion, with one man shouting “if you want to die, stay here!”
Kelsey says the incident started off with plumes of smoke coming from the lorry. She said: “The lorry had loads of wooden pallets in it so the fire was spreading quickly. We’re lucky because all the fences at the back of the flats are made of wood so it could’ve easily got through to our homes.
“The whole estate had left their properties and people were running round knock at each other’s doors.
“Everyone came together to make sure we were all okay. One man who didn’t even live on the estate was going from door to door getting people out. The whole street came together.”
A spokesperson for the fire service said: “At 7.15pm on June 10, 2023, four fire engines from Preston, Bamber Bridge, Blackburn and Darwen[3] attended a commercial building fire on Kelly Street, Blackburn.
“Fire crews used two jets and two breathing apparatus and were in attendance for approximately one hour and forty minutes.”
An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire.