Teenage girl pulled from rubble after horror explosion ripped windows off house

Burnley Police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue and North West Ambulance Service have all been called to the blast at Sefton Terrace, Burnley, Lancashire, where a man was taken to hospital and a girl believed to be 17 escaped was pulled from the rubble

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Burnley: Emergency services cordon off road after house collapses

A young girl was pulled from the rubble after a horrific explosion blew out the windows of a house – leaving a man seriously injured.

Burnley Police, Lancashire Fire and Rescue and the North West Ambulance Service were all called to the blast, which took a man to hospital and pulled a girl, believed to be 17, from the rubble.

The North West Ambulance Service said the man was flown to the Royal Preston Hospital after suffering severe trauma in the blast in Burnley, Lancashire.

Sarah Jones, 19, who lives across the street from the end-of-terrace, said she was at home when she heard a bang followed by a scraping noise, which she now believes came from the windows of the property.

She said: “I came out and saw black smoke everywhere.

“I know the family that lives there well and when I came out their relatives were there.

“I asked if anyone was in there and they said the girl was. she is 17

“Neighbors got a ladder and climbed to the top two windows, but then realized it wasn’t upstairs but in the front room and had gone through the floor to the basement.

“She was covered in debris and her relatives had to pull her out from under everything.

“We took her to my house and she said she didn’t think she was hurt, she was more worried about her mother

wanted to react.

“She’s very, very lucky.”

Lisa Gorton, 42, said: “I just stood there and I heard a big bang, like you’re watching a movie or you’re watching a building demolish.

“I saw black smoke and the windows went through and everyone came running out.

“I called the fire department. Everyone tried to help.”

Councilwoman Sarah Hall, who was on hand to support residents, said the incident was believed to have been a gas explosion.

Andy Fewings, also a councillor, said 10 homes had been evacuated and residents were told to go to St Matthew’s Church on Albion Street.

A search and rescue team was seen on the street Monday, along with a number of firefighters, police officers and gas and electric trucks.

A Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We have three fire engines and our city search and rescue team on site.

“We are working with the other emergency services, local authorities and utilities to make the scene safe and to assess the structure of the property.

“Firefighters on the scene now use a turntable ladder platform to secure the structure of the home by removing curbs from the gable end.”