Families forced to leave homes after Benwell blaze being helped at community centre
Newcastle City Council's leader has told of sadness after this morning's major fire on Violet Close in Benwell, Newcastle
by Sophie Doughty · ChronicleLiveFamilies forced out of their homes by a major fire are today being helped at a local community centre.
Three adults and one child were taken to hospital after the incident, which happened on in Violet Close, in Benwell, Newcastle, early on Wednesday morning. On Wednesday afternoon, it was confirmed that a seven-year-old boy had sadly died.
Harrowing aerial pictures show how at least two houses appear to have been completely destroyed by the blaze, with a number of families living nearby being forced to leave their homes.
Today help for those affected has been flooding in. A rest centre has been set up at nearby Merton Lodge Community Centre on Buddle Road where council staff are helping those who have been evacuated. And local people and businesses have already been dropping off donations of food and clothing at the centre.
Now Newcastle City Council's leader, Coun Karen Kilgour, has told of her sadness as she thanked all those helping residents.
She said: “I’m deeply saddened to hear about this morning’s incident at Violet Close and my thoughts are with all those directly affected as well as the wider local community. We’re supporting the emergency services at this early stage to provide any assistance we can to those working at the scene as well as any residents who have been affected.
“A rest centre was quickly established nearby to provide shelter and immediate support to those who have been displaced from their homes. Housing officers have been on site to support residents as required and we will continue to help people who have been affected by this morning’s incident.
“I’d like to thank our emergency services and council staff for their swift and thorough response to what has been a frightening incident for all of those in the local area. We will continue to provide assistance as the emergency response continues.”
Emergency services were called to Violet Close at around 1am and have been in the area all morning. Roads surrounding the street have been closed and residents were being advised to keep their windows and doors shut.
The North East Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 12.45am today. We dispatched four paramedic crews, four crews from our hazardous area response team (Hart), a doctor, a specialist paramedic, a clinical team leader, a duty officer and a tactical adviser to the scene. We treated and conveyed four patients - three adults and one child - to hospital for further treatment."
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