Fire in Gardeners Close as neighbours hear smashing windows

The house fire in Gardeners Close had one of its floor destroyed after a fire broke out early this morning (Thursday).

Neighbours recalled the harrowing moment when they were woken up to the noise of "windows cracking" and "popping" as the house went up in flames.

POPPING: Residents said they woke up to the windows smashing. (Image: NQ)One neighbour said: "The flames had literally engulfed the whole top floor.

"I heard windows cracking - blowing out."

They said someone had run into the road calling for them to call 999, and they saw the homeowner standing in his pants, staring back at the house. 

The neighbour said they went inside to fetch him a top to put on.

Five fire engines had filled Gardeners Close and its neighbouring road, Turners Close, while 12 firefighters fought the blaze. 

The team were on the scene for several hours, tackling the fire.

A pile of the person's things were left on the floor outside. (Image: NQ)Another neighbour said: "I woke up and heard a pop and thought of god, and I then saw the flames.

"I couldn't see the owner and tried to get my stuff on as quickly as possible.

"Then I saw him outside the house and tried to get him away from the property."

The top front window of the house and the side window have completely disappeared from the house, and a collection of the owner's things has formed a pile outside.

A spokesperson for HWFR said: "The fire was in a two-storey, semi-detached house, 12 m by 12m, the floor of which was completely destroyed by fire.

"The fire was extinguished by 12 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using two hosereel jets and a covering jet.

"A short extension ladder was also deployed. Positive pressure ventilation was also used.

"A neighbouring property was checked for fire spread with a thermal imaging camera. Cutting away and dampening down was carried out with the thermal imaging camera used to check for hot spots.

"There were no casualties."