FIREFIGHTERS' have urged homeowners to make sure their household appliances are switched off after a serious gas leak in Carlisle last night, caused by a cooker.
The crews were called to a block of flats on Long Holme Road , just before 9.30 yesterday evening after residents smelt gas in their homes.
On arrival, the team from Carlisle East discovered gas readings in all four of the flats extremely high.
Residents of the flats were evacuated to a nearby community centre with one elderly person rescued from the block.- people were checked over at community centre whilst the gas network and fire service isolated the incident.
The operation was a multi agency response from fire, police, ambulance service and the northern gas network.
The leak, suspected to be from a cooker that had been left on for some time, was isolated and residents returned to their homes at around midnight last night.
Carlisle East Watch Manager, Adrian Dargue, said: "It was an excellent multi-agency response, our first priority was public safety, everyone was evacuated immediately and an inner and outer cordon was established due to the severity of the gas leak."
"We encourage all home owners to check their gas appliances are switched off before leaving the property or going to bed."
" This could of been a significant incident should the gas had not been detected when it had."
"There was a block of four flats and they were all full of gas, if someone had gone and had a cigarette outside it would of caused an explosion."
"It was a very severe incident which we managed to deal with successfully."
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