Massive Fire Destroys Six Homes in Newbridge, Wales; 20 Residents Displaced

A devastating fire has destroyed six bungalows and left 20 people without homes in Newbridge, a town in Caerphilly county, south Wales. The blaze began on Hazelwood Road on Wednesday and quickly spread through the row of homes. There are no reports of casualties.

Scenes of Destruction

Local councillor Adrian Hussey said the houses were absolutely gutted and that residents' cars were also damaged in the fire. He said residents had tried to fight the blaze themselves but it was too severe to contain. Emergency services called to the scene included 12 fire appliances and two ambulances. Smoke from the fire in the Pantside area was visible from far away.

Heatwave Context

Welsh First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said fire services across Wales were at full stretch this summer due to the ongoing heatwave and a series of wildfires. Fields near the bungalows were also burnt in the incident. Residents who could not return to their homes were offered temporary accommodation at a local leisure centre, where they spent the night.

Cause Unknown

The cause of the fire had not been established at the time of reporting. An investigation is expected to be launched. Aerial images showed the extent of the devastation, with roofs caved in and surrounding vegetation scorched across a wide area of the street.