This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/6602743.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Roads re-opened after gas fears Investigation follows gas alert
(10 minutes later)
About 50 residents moved out of their Maghera homes amid fears of a gas explosion have been allowed to return. An investigation is under way to try to establish the cause of a fire which sparked a gas alert in County Londonderry.
A 200-metre exclusion zone was set up after a van containing an acetylene cylinder caught fire in the early hours of Saturday. About 50 residents were moved out of their Maghera homes after a van containing an acetylene cylinder caught fire at about 0300 BST on Saturday.
The Lisnamuck Road and the Drumconready Road were closed but the area has now re-opened. A 200-metre exclusion zone was put in place for a number of hours.
Maurice Rafferty from the Fire and Rescue Service said their main priority was to ensure the safety of residents.Maurice Rafferty from the Fire and Rescue Service said their main priority was to ensure the safety of residents.
He said crews implemented national safety arrangements when they arrived on the scene, and about 12 properties were evacuated. He said crews had implemented national safety arrangements when they arrived on the scene, and about 12 properties were evacuated.
Evacuees had to rely on hospitality of friends and relatives"Acetylene, when exposed to shock or heat, is quite dangerous and, indeed, can explode on occasion," he said.Evacuees had to rely on hospitality of friends and relatives"Acetylene, when exposed to shock or heat, is quite dangerous and, indeed, can explode on occasion," he said.
"Therefore, crews were forced with no other decision but to carry out an immediate evacuation to ensure community safety.""Therefore, crews were forced with no other decision but to carry out an immediate evacuation to ensure community safety."
He said residents went to stay with relatives in the area. He said residents went to stay with relatives in the area. They were allowed home at about lunchtime on Saturday and the cordon was lifted.
The van fire was left to burn itself out because of the danger to any firefighters trying to extinguish it.The van fire was left to burn itself out because of the danger to any firefighters trying to extinguish it.