Praise for services tackling Betws house fire (From South Wales Guardian)

Praise for services tackling Betws house fire

12:00pm Friday 20th July 2012 in News

A BETWS community councillor has praised the “professionalism”

shown by police and firefighters in responding to a house fire in the heart of the village last month.

The blaze, affecting two properties in Betws Road, broke out in the attic of a twostorey property on the morning of June 11, causing the occupants to flee their homes.

“If this had happened at night the consequences would have been far more serious,” Cllr Annette Price told colleagues. “We were lucky we didn’t have four fatalities.

“I would like to say a very big thank you to the fire brigade in dealing with a serious incident which brought the whole square to a halt – police also handled the situation extremely well.”

But Cllr Price added that cars parked on pavements had hampered the approach of emergency vehicles, as did motorists ‘rubber-necking’ the scene.

A spokesman for the Mid and West Wales Fire Service confirmed a fire affecting the attic and first floor of a property in Betws Road was reported at 11.26am on Monday, June 11.

“Firefighters using six breathing apparatus, three main jets, two hose reel jets, thermal imaging equipment and ladders tackled the blaze,” she added.

“One person was given oxygen at the scene but did not have to be taken to hospital.”

The occupants are still unable to return home.