Evacuations after garden fire spread to homes

Several people have been evacuated from their homes in Sheffield after a "very serious" fire, which started in a garden and spread to neighbouring properties.

Firefighters were called to Fox Hill Road in Grenoside at about 04:00 BST, with the blaze eventually affecting a total of five houses, according to the fire service.

At the height of the blaze, eight crews and several specialist fire vehicles were at the scene, but a fire service spokesperson said at about 10:00 BST that it had been extinguished and crews were damping down.

A number of people who had been evacuated were rehomed, but no injuries had been reported, they said.

The spokesperson urged people living nearby to avoid the area and keep windows and doors shut as there remains a large amount of smoke.

Road closures were in place on Fox Hill Road, Salt Box Lane and Wilcox Road, the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said.

In a statement, the service said an investigation into the cause of the fire would get under way later.

"Our thoughts are with all the residents affected by this very serious fire," they added.

Helena Claxton, 20, whose home backs on to the gardens of Fox Hill Road, said she was awoken by loud "cracking and popping" at about 03:30.

"By the time I looked out my window, a big gulf of fire had already set up in the trees," she said.

"It was pure panic. When I spoke to 999 I couldn't remember where I lived. I couldn't get my words out at all."

The fire damaged her garden and has cracked, warped and burned the windows at the back of the house, she said.

"In that moment of panic I grabbed what I could - I grabbed my favourite teddy and computer and chargers and I ran outside in my pyjamas," she said.

"We went into my neighbour's house and as she opened her back doors, the heat that flew through - we knew instantly we couldn't stay inside.

"We had to leave, we had to run out into the street and that's when they started to evacuate people."

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service station manager Tom Robjohns said the "impact of this fire has been quite severe" and warned residents against barbecues and bonfires.

"We have endured quite a long spate of warm and dry conditions. My ask would be that we take care, especially when handling barbecues, having fires and in general always have smoke alarms in all properties," he said.

A further five properties had been affected alongside the five that received damage, he said, and thanked residents for raising the alarm in the early hours of the morning.

"Them coming together has stopped us having any serious injuries from this fire," he said.

The service is working with South Yorkshire Police to establish the cause of the fire.

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