Fire at Stevenage care home after 'explosion'
A fire broke out at a Stevenage care home this afternoon following a reported explosion in a resident's room, with seven people taken to hospital.
Emergency services responded to a fire at Woodlands View care home on Magpie Crescent, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, at around 4.30pm on Saturday.
Two air ambulances were sent to the scene with social media users reporting that one of them had landed in the car park of a nearby Sainsbury's.
Seven people have been taken to hospital, some of them suffering from smoke inhalation and one from burns, with one in a critical condition.
Emergency services responded to a fire at Woodlands View care home (pictured) on Magpie Crescent, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, at around 4.30pm on Saturday
A police chief inspector said the explosion appeared to have been caused by an explosion in one of the resident's rooms, according to the Hertfordshire Mercury.
A resident who lives two doors along from the care home said the area had been 'inundated with fire engines and police'.
One social media user, Jim Garnett, described it as a 'serious fire'.
Seven people have been taken to Lister Hospital, with one patient described as being in a critical condition.
The other six are said to be in a stable condition, with one having suffered burns and others being treated for smoke inhalation.
Two air ambulances were sent to the scene with social media users reporting that one of them had landed in the car park of a nearby Sainsbury's
Hertfordshire County Council told MailOnline in a statement: 'Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to reports of a fire at a care home in Stevenage at 4.30 this afternoon.
'Eight fire engines were sent to the scene. All residents have been evacuated and all persons are accounted for.
'The fire is now out. Hertfordshire County Council social services are working closely with the care home provider, HC- One, to ensure residents are moved to alternative accommodation where necessary.
'The care home providers are doing everything possible to contact relatives of residents to keep them updated with the latest information.
'The emergency services have been working closely together at the scene.'
The ambulance service confirmed that six ambulances, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), a rapid response vehicle, two air ambulances and a number of ambulance officers had attended the scene.
Local resident Tim Claydon said: 'I didn't hear anything, but around 5pm the area was inundated with engines and police.
'I saw one air ambulance land near The Coopers Inn pub and another into Sainsbury's car park.'
Stevenage MP Stephen McPartland thanked the emergency services for responding 'professionally' to the incident.
A spokesperson for the home said: 'We regret to confirm at 4.30pm this afternoon a fire broke out at Woodlands View Care Home in Stevenage.
'At the time of the incident, staff at the home took immediate action to notify the emergency services and evacuate residents, staff and visitors to safety in other parts of the home. The fire has been extinguished, and we are now working with the emergency services to assess the situation.
Seven people have been taken to Lister Hospital, with one patient believed to be in a critical condition. Pictured: emergency workers from the East of England Ambulance Service
'A number of residents have been taken to hospital to receive further medical attention, and we are doing everything we can to support their families. Additional staff from across the organisation are now at the home to support all other residents and staff during this distressing time.
'The safety and wellbeing of residents is our number one priority. We are making arrangements to accommodate the evacuated residents to our sister homes within a 20-mile radius overnight as needed.
'We have also been keeping the families of all residents up to date with the latest developments. In due course, there will be a full investigation, however our immediate priority remains providing all support possible to everybody connected to the home.'
Hertfordshire Police tweeted: 'We are currently dealing with an incident in Magpie Crescent, and there are road closures in place.
'The public are advised to avoid the area at this time while we and our other emergency service colleagues are at the scene. We appreciate your patience - thank you.