Pershore resident heard ‘big bang’ before devastating fire

A resident has described hearing a “big bang” like a “bomb going off” in the lead up to a fire that saw three houses gutted and dozens of people evacuated.

Robert Jones, of Three Springs Road in Pershore, watched as gardens, fences, and then houses ignited “in seconds”.

Six people were treated at the scene on Thursday, and more than 30 homes were evacuated including the one owned by Jones, who lives directly opposite the worst affected properties.

“I was very sad for the people that owned the house, because it’s not the house, it’s the memories of it,” he said. “If things like pictures have gone they’re never going to get those back.”

Talking of the moments before the blaze took hold, Jones said: “I heard a big bang, like a bomb going off.

“We rushed outside to find the grass at the front was on fire so we put that out before I went up to the garage to look across the road.

“It looked like the fire seemed to be coming from the Rail Ground, on the corner, so it was all smoke coming up there.”