Fireball Horror in Romsey as Generator Erupts, Sparks Chaos in New Apartments
Panic gripped Romsey last night when a generator suddenly exploded into flames, sending a massive fireball roaring through a brand-new apartment block. Thick smoke and fear spread fast after neighbours spotted the blaze creeping over hedges just after 8:30pm.
Firefighters Race to Tame Fierce Generator Blaze
Four fire engines from Eastleigh, Redbridge, and Romsey stormed the scene, joined by an aerial ladder from St Mary’s and a hazardous area response unit. Hampshire Fire and Rescue lent vital backup as crews battled the roaring inferno.
Using four hose reels from a high ladder, firefighters fought relentlessly to stop the flames spreading to nearby buildings. Though they brought the fire under control, they stayed on site working to douse lingering hot spots.
The blaze damaged part of the shiny new block, which was gearing up for its grand opening this October.
Residents Evacuated as Flames Sweep Through Complex
Alert locals didn’t waste a second. They raised the alarm and helped evacuate residents who had only just moved in that afternoon. Some evacuees were put up in hotels, while others stayed with family or friends.
Generator Noise Complaints Preceded Fiery Outbreak
The generator was already a thorn in neighbours’ sides. Brought in due to delays hooking up the apartments to the national grid, it had sparked noise complaints. Residents served a noise abatement notice, forcing contractors to encase the generator in a wooden shell for soundproofing.
Fire wardens had inspected and signed off on this setup before the blaze.
Arson Probe Launched as Police and Fire Investigate Suspicious Blaze
Hampshire Fire and Rescue’s arson team joined forces with Hampshire Constabulary to investigate the cause. The site remains cordoned off, with the generator’s blaze treated as suspicious.
“It is most regrettable that a failure to provide mains electricity on schedule has forced us to rely on emergency generators, causing noise and disturbance to neighbours,” said Peter Tanner, Planning Director of Renaissance Retirement.
“We sympathise with residents and acted immediately once the noise nuisance was raised.”
The company said it is working hard to fix the power supply issues and improve noise insulation on the generators.
Meanwhile, fire crews remain at the site ensuring every last ember is fully extinguished.
