Man badly burnt as Wolverhampton van fire spreads to house
A man has been taken to hospital with burns after a fire at a house.
The blaze broke out at around 6.15pm on Monday in Pencombe Drive, in the Goldthorn Park area of Wolverhampton, severely damaging the home and destroying a van parked on the driveway.
An explosion rocked Pencombe Drive, in the Goldthorn Park area of Wolverhampton, at around 6.15pm on Monday, leaving a workman's van on a driveway engulfed in flames.
The blaze then spread to the house behind the van, causing severe damage.
Paramedics treated the workman at the scene for burns, before rushing him to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for further treatment.
The workman, employed by IWJS on behalf of Severn Trent Water, had been working to clear a sewerage pipe of concrete running underneath the house.
The homeowner, 47-year-old Lakesh Jakhu, was sitting in the living room when the explosion occurred, and said he feels lucky to be alive.
"I ran outside and saw the flames," he said.
"My first concern was for the workman - I wanted to make sure he was OK. I thought he was in the van.
"I put my hose on but there was so much fire and black smoke it did not make any difference."
Dramatic photos from the scene last night show the front of the property and the van severely damaged.
A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "We were called to reports of fire on Pencombe Drive at 6.15pm on Monday. One ambulance, two paramedic officers and the West Midlands Care Team attended the scene.
"On arrival we discovered a van and house ablaze. We treated one patient, a man, for burn injuries before he was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham for further treatment."
West Midlands Fire Service said it sent 25 firefighters to the blaze, which is thought to have been accidentally.
A spokesperson said: "This was a severe house fire which had spread from a van at the property and to the neighbouring house.
"Crews wore breathing apparatus and used hose reels to tackle the fire, along with main and covering jets.
"A gas pipe was damaged in the fire so as a precaution, the gas supply in the area was temporarily shut off to enable our crews to tackle the fire safely. The fire was put out by 8.30pm.
"All persons are accounted for and one man was taken to hospital by colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service having self-extricated from the property."
