Council leaders pay tribute to those who responded to Yate gas explosion
Three people were seriously injured in a blast at a home last month
Council leaders have paid tribute to the bravery of neighbours and the emergency services who leapt into action following the devastating gas explosion at a house in Yate last month.
A family home in Lancaster Road was destroyed and another left uninhabitable in the blast on April 29.
Three people were seriously injured and taken to hospital, while a fourth was treated at the scene by ambulance staff.
The cause is believed to be a gas explosion, although unrelated to the main gas line.
A GoFundMe page was launched to help neighbours Rich Cainey and his dad Rob who lost everything in the incident but showed extraordinary courage to enter the burning building to rescue the residents.
South Gloucestershire Council leader Cllr Maggie Tyrrell (Lib Dem, Thornbury) told a cabinet meeting on Monday, May 12: “The quick and very brave actions of neighbours doubtless saved that from having an even worse outcome than it did.
“We wish to extend our thanks to all who helped – the neighbours, all the emergency services, our council teams and The Farmhouse pub which acted as a residence for those affected.
“We wish to offer our sympathy to those whose lives have been changed by this event and offer the continued support of the council.”
Cabinet member for planning, regeneration and infrastructure Cllr Chris Willmore (Lib Dem, Yate North), who lives about 250 yards from the site, said: “That area has always been a close-knit community that helps each other.
“On that day we saw people doing the most amazing things to help each other, putting themselves at risk to rescue others, putting themselves at risk to find beloved animals, and then supporting each other by evacuating other residents to friends, neighbours, relatives, and that community link has continued in the following days.
“I’ve been shocked by the people who thought they fancied a trip there to have a gawp.
“Anybody who engaged in going to have a gawp needs to have a serious look at themselves.
“That community was in grief and is still in grief and it needs space to grieve and to get over things.
“For the residents in the houses most affected, they have lost everything, they’re not even being allowed back in to recover sentimental, personal possessions, so a lifetime of memories has gone.
“The whole community has been very grateful to South Glos for the very quick way the council reacted, and we’ve had positive letters of support.
“The council continues to support the families as they move into the process of beginning to work out what their life continues to mean and how to live it, bereft so much about what they care so much about.”