Jersey tower explosion: Questions asked over firefighters’ ‘gas leak’ visit hours before blast | UK News
Jersey’s fire chief defended the emergency services’ response to a deadly explosion that leveled a block of apartments, after it was reported that firefighters had arrived at the building just hours earlier to Investigate reports of gas leaks.
Paul Brown told a news conference on Sunday: “What a tragic, tragic situation and we are all saddened by the missing islanders, their families and loved ones. they are suffering today and will continue to be.
“It’s terrible. But the people on the island can count on their emergency services. The people on the island can count on the State of Jersey fire and rescue services.”
Read more: Body search ‘will take weeks’
Jersey Fire Chief Paul Brown defended the fire service
The explosion tore through the three-story Haut du Mont on Pier Street in the Channel Island capital at about 4 a.m. Saturday. It is understood that there are six apartments in the building.
The explosion was also recorded by CCTV.
Three people are believed to have died and about a dozen are still believed to be missing.
Mr Brown confirmed that firefighters were called to the building at 8.36pm on Friday and launched an investigation after residents reported the smell of gas. The explosion happened about seven and a half hours later.
He said the explosion was reported around 4am and he was contacted around 4:30am. He said a formal request was made to Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Isle Of Wight for assistance, and it was immediately accepted.
Explaining that full log of the official time is available, he calls Jersey’s fire and rescue service “a great service”, but says they are “a small fire and rescue service”. for a small jurisdiction”, thus needing support from neighboring jurisdictions.
Photo: Jersey Government
While it was confirmed that firefighters were called to the same building the night before, he said he did not know if there were any additional calls to the apartments in the days leading up to the explosion. are not.
The fire chief acknowledged that there had been a “terrible incident” and that his agency would be “fully cooperating” and “transparent” with investigations into what caused the explosion.
Robin Smith, superintendent of the Jersey Police Department, said the recall operation will now “take several weeks” to complete due to the “tough” nature of the search.
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The moment of the explosion in Jersey
Expert groups from other parts of the UK, including the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, have been drafted to support the response.
Gas supplier Island Energy said it was working with the fire brigade to “understand exactly what happened”.
Andium Homes, a state-owned but independent company that operates the apartments, said it is focusing on supporting residents at the property.
About 40 people are currently being housed in alternative accommodation.
Kristina Moore, Jersey’s minister, said a call center had been set up to coordinate efforts and a fund had been set up to assist those displaced by the blast.
