(Image: North Wales Fire and Rescue Green Watch)
Dog killed and two rushed to hospital after gas explosion on marina
by Stephen Topping · Manchester Evening NewsA dog was killed and two people rushed to hospital following a gas explosion on a boat. Emergency services were called out to Chirk Marina in Wrexham, North Wales, at around 6pm on Saturday (December 14).
Two boats were set ablaze in the blast. Thankfully, both casualties managed to escape with minor injuries, with the pair taken to hospital by ambulance.
The 'pleasure boat' later sank, leading to the dog's tragic death, the Mirror reports. The fire spread to a second vessel, a 40ft traditional canal boat, as crews battled flames at the scene.
Firefighters prevented the burning boat from colliding with other vessels and successfully brought the secondary blaze under control. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service's Wrexham Greenwatch posted dramatic pictures and shared details of the incident on social media.
A spokesperson for the fire service said: "Green Watch had a challenging night, starting with a marine incident involving a gas explosion aboard a pleasure craft. Two rescue pumps from Wrexham attended the scene, supported by Deeside's water rescue unit.
(Image: SWNS/North Wales Fire and Rescue Service)
"Crews established multiple safe systems of work to ensure crew safety while operating in the dark near the water's edge. The water rescue team deployed their sled to secure a drifting boat that had burned through its mooring ropes, preventing it from colliding with other vessels.
"Thanks to the assistance of marine staff, no pollutants or fire debris entered the main canal, and the incident was fully contained. Unfortunately, one boat was completely destroyed and sank, sadly a dog that was on board at the time of the explosion couldn't be saved and sadly passed away on the boat. The second vessel sustained severe fire damage, but crews limited the fire spread."