A HOUSE fire has gutted one Park South home and badly damaged another. 

Firefighters were called shortly after 6.30pm this evening after a shed fire spread to a line of terraced houses on Keswick Road.

Swindon Advertiser:

More than 30 firefighters from Swindon, Westlea, Stratton and Cricklade fire stations battled the fire, which threatened to destroy a third home.

One woman, 18, standing by the police cordon and who asked not to be named, said: “We could see the smoke from Walcot.”

Neighbour Sam Ellis, 49, could see the devastation from her sister’s Shaftesbury Avenue garden: “It’s horrendous round there. We’ve lost gardens, but they’ve lost their homes.”

Swindon Advertiser:

Harvey Alexander, 7, rushed home after seeing the blaze: “I saw a big flame come up. It came wooshing up. I got scared.”

The Red Cross have been called to the scene, with Wiltshire Police closing off Keswick Road at the junction with Shaftesbury Avenue.

Earlier this evening Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service advised residents to keep their windows shut against the smoke. They posted on social media: “Avoid the area if possible and we advise all neighbouring properties to keep windows and doors closed at this time.”

There are not believed to be any casualties.

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