ARSON THEORY IN HOUSE EXPLOSION; Mystery fire and blast at flats treated as suspicious.

Byline: JOANNE DOUGLAS

AN arsonist was being hunted today after a blast at a Brighouse house.

Police investigating the fire and explosion yesterday have confirmed it was suspicious.

The explosion at the house on Gooder Lane happened at 2.30am yesterday morning but fortunately no-one was inside at the time.

It is believed an unspecified ignitable liquid was used to start the blaze but further details are not yet known.

The detached property is divided into four flats, all of which were empty at the time of the explosion.

Windows at the property shattered after the explosion which woke many people living nearby. They then noticed the first floor of the property was on fire.

And the explosion left the building unsafe, with bowed walls and a roof in danger of collapsing on firefighters.

Steven Garling, who lives opposite the flats, said: "I heard a massive bang and looked out of my window and saw the flames coming out of the window.

"It was quite intense and the firefighters did a good job going in there.

"I could hear the glass shattering on the floor, the fire was that bad it forced the windows out.

"As far as I know someone moved out last week so they're pretty lucky not to have been inside."

Liz Jenning, a mother-of-two, added: "It was scary being woken up by a massive bang, you wonder what on earth has happened.

"I'm just thankful no-one was in there at the time."

Tim Galling, who lives further along Gooder Lane, added: "I couldn't believe the noise of the explosion, it seemed to have woken most people up.

"There was glass falling out of the windows and smashing onto the floor.

"It was surreal looking out of your window and seeing a house on fire" The emergency services received numerous calls from the public reporting a loud bang shortly after 2.30am.

Fire crews from Huddersfield, Brighouse, Cleckheaton and Elland raced to the scene initially fearing someone could be inside one of the flats.

Crew manager Steve Mosley from Brighouse fire station said: "Initially we thought there were people trapped inside.

"Fortunately there was no one inside. It has made a lot of mess and there was glass all over the road."

Eight firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the burning building to search the property and tackle the blaze.

Police and United Utilities attended the scene while fire investigation crews were on the scene yesterday morning to determine the cause of the explosion and fire. Watch manager Mick Pollard said: "The fire investigation team are doing the survey to find the cause of the fire.

"The scene inside is not good. The first floor has been heavily damaged by the fire and is burnt out."

A spokeswoman for United Utilities added: "Emergency engineers were called to a report of an explosion at a block of four flats in Gooder Lane, Brighouse, at about 3am this morning.

"Emergency services were on site and we worked closely with them to make the area safe and as a precaution cut off the gas supply to the affected property.

"It is not yet clear what caused the explosion, initial checks on the gas mains and services in the street have revealed no problems and we have now left the site."

CAPTION(S):

* AFTERMATH: The extent of the damage can clearly be seen, with the blown-out windows and charred brickwork (PC300609Ahouse) WRECKED: Fire crews at the scene of the wrecked house in Gooder Lane at Brighouse