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Hair tongs 'did not cause blaze' Fire teenagers 'lucky to survive'
(about 3 hours later)
Fire chiefs have found no evidence hair straighteners or curling tongs were involved in an explosion and blaze that badly injured four teenage girls. Four teenage girls badly injured in an explosion and fire at a house are lucky to be alive, say investigators.
Investigators say no remains of straighteners or tongs were found in the house in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire. Anya Evans, 15, her sister Kira, 14, and friends Kimberly Patterson, 15, and Nadine Fardon, 14, are on life support machines in hospital.
Mid and West Wales Fire Service said reports it was started by gas-fuelled straighteners were "press speculation". Fire chiefs say reports that hair straighteners or curling tongs are "press speculation" after finding no evidence they were involved.
Anya Evans, 15, her sister Kira, 14, and friends Kimberly Patterson, 15, and Nadine Fardon, 14, remain in hospital. The girls were injured on Monday afternoon in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
Investigators said no remains of straighteners or tongs were found in the house in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
Doctors said at least one of the girls, and probably more, would remain in Morriston Hospital, Swansea, for some time and will need extensive surgery after Monday afternoon's fire.Doctors said at least one of the girls, and probably more, would remain in Morriston Hospital, Swansea, for some time and will need extensive surgery after Monday afternoon's fire.
All four are on life support machines, with burns ranging from 41% to 29%.All four are on life support machines, with burns ranging from 41% to 29%.
We would like to ask that members of the public do not speculate about the cause of the fire, because it only adds to the grief of the family Gethin Davies, fire officerWe would like to ask that members of the public do not speculate about the cause of the fire, because it only adds to the grief of the family Gethin Davies, fire officer
The girls, who are pupils at Coedcae School in Llanelli, managed to escape from the building before fire crews arrived.The girls, who are pupils at Coedcae School in Llanelli, managed to escape from the building before fire crews arrived.
Fire officers have now revealed the full extent of the damage to the sisters' house in Old Castle Road, and said the four were "lucky to survive". Fire officers have now revealed the full extent of the damage to the sisters' house in Old Castle Road.
They said there was a "significant gas explosion" in the rear first-floor bedroom.They said there was a "significant gas explosion" in the rear first-floor bedroom.
In a statement, they said: "The explosion was strong enough to severely damage the internal bedroom walls and ceiling, blow out the glass from the double-glazed bedroom window and also blow out the double-glazed window in the downstairs kitchen.In a statement, they said: "The explosion was strong enough to severely damage the internal bedroom walls and ceiling, blow out the glass from the double-glazed bedroom window and also blow out the double-glazed window in the downstairs kitchen.
Aerosol containersAerosol containers
"The ensuing fire destroyed the bedrooms, landing area and the roof of this property plus the roofs of the two adjoining properties."The ensuing fire destroyed the bedrooms, landing area and the roof of this property plus the roofs of the two adjoining properties.
"Though suffering from severe burns, the four girls were lucky to survive this incident."Though suffering from severe burns, the four girls were lucky to survive this incident.
"During a fingertip search of the bedroom investigators found and removed a large number of pressurised aerosol canisters for possible further evaluation."During a fingertip search of the bedroom investigators found and removed a large number of pressurised aerosol canisters for possible further evaluation.
Flames and smoke pour from the roof at the height of the blaze"Pressurised aerosol containers contain a small quantity of highly inflammable butane gas which acts as an expellant for the contents.Flames and smoke pour from the roof at the height of the blaze"Pressurised aerosol containers contain a small quantity of highly inflammable butane gas which acts as an expellant for the contents.
"Due to fire damage the exact contents of all of the canisters cannot be confirmed at this time."Due to fire damage the exact contents of all of the canisters cannot be confirmed at this time.
"Despite some press reports of the explosion and fire being started by gas-fuelled hair straighteners this has not been endorsed by investigators and should be considered as press speculation."Despite some press reports of the explosion and fire being started by gas-fuelled hair straighteners this has not been endorsed by investigators and should be considered as press speculation.
"No remains of hair straighteners or curling tongs were found during the search of the bedroom.""No remains of hair straighteners or curling tongs were found during the search of the bedroom."
County commander Gethin Davies said a senior fire investigator and forensic scientist were "laboriously going through the first-floor area with a fingertip search and at the moment we have not come to any conclusions".County commander Gethin Davies said a senior fire investigator and forensic scientist were "laboriously going through the first-floor area with a fingertip search and at the moment we have not come to any conclusions".
He said: "We would like to ask that members of the public do not speculate about the cause of the fire, because it only adds to the grief of the family."He said: "We would like to ask that members of the public do not speculate about the cause of the fire, because it only adds to the grief of the family."
He said while a number of unexploded gas canisters had been recovered, one canister alone "could not have caused this damage to the property which people are speculating about."He said while a number of unexploded gas canisters had been recovered, one canister alone "could not have caused this damage to the property which people are speculating about."
Dyfed-Powys Police have said the fire does not appear to be suspicious.Dyfed-Powys Police have said the fire does not appear to be suspicious.