Residents flee in garage blast fears

Around 30 residents were forced to leave their homes in Brinsworth because of initial fears that there may have been gas cylinders inside the burning premises which could have exploded.

Fire crews were called to Whitehill Garage on Whitehill  Lane, Brinsworth, at1am to find the building engulfed in flames.

A 200-metre safety cordon was put in place around the garage, which led to the closure of a number of roads including the Sheffield Parkway, which was closed from junction 33 of the M1 at Catcliffe.

When firefighters extinguished the flames and searched the garage this morning they discovered that the gas cylinders had not been involved in the fire.

The cordon was lifted and affected roads were re-opened at around 7am.

Firefighters are still at the incident.

A South Yorkshire Fire Service spokesman said: “Acetelyne cylinders were originally believed to have been involved in the fire and a 200m cordon was put in place, causing around 30 people to be evacuated from nearby homes and housed overnight in a nearby school, with assistance from Rotherham Council.

“Acetelyne cylinders are potentially explosive if they have been involved in fire.

“Standard procedures require the cylinders to be cooled with a water jet for a 24-hour period after the fire is out, and a 200m safety cordon to be put in place throughout that period.

“But when firefighters accessed the building this morning, they determined cylinders had not been involved in the fire, which is now extinguished.

“Roads which had been closed whilst the cordon was in place, including part of Sheffield Parkway, have reopened. People are also now being allowed to return to their homes.”

More than 30 firefighters from Rothergham, Dearne and four other fire stations dealt with the blaze.

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.