Fire rips through Park Gate block of flats and spreads to roof

Eight fire appliances along with forty fire crew from Hightown, Fareham, Cosham, Portchester, Eastliegh, StMarys, Southsea, and Botley are currently in attendance at a fire in a block of flats in on Botley Road in Park Gate. The serious fire is involving the first floor and roof. Residents claim that a gas explosion within one of the properties shot through into a fire ball and through the roof. One line Police and fire investigators are looking at is an excel-rant was out through the letter box. It is understood that there are no serious injuries following the fire that broken out just after 10.20pm on Saturday evening. Fire fighters have rescued a number of animals from a property on the second floor it is understood. Fire crews are likely to remain at the incident until. The early hours. A specialist aerial ladder and a command and control unit has also been sent to the incident. Residents have been evacuated from other properties within the building whilst crews tackle the well developed blaze. A spokesman for Hampshire Fire said the cause is currently unknown and under investigation.