Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Laura Clements

Huge fire in Swansea destroys businesses leaving owners 'devastated'

A huge fire has destroyed a row of businesses in Swansea leaving owners 'devastated'.

Firefighters spent all night tackling the blaze, on Pentrechwyth Road, which destroyed a row of commercial properties.

Nearby residents were evacuated to the Liberty Stadium as the fire tore through a garage, a boutique shop and four other commercial units on Saturday night.

Fire crews remain at the scene on Sunday (September 27) morning and road closures are in place in the area.

The fire is believed to have started at around 10.30pm before quickly spreading.

Fire crews were called just after 10.30pm on Saturday night (Sara Phillips)
Fire crews were still at the scene on Sunday morning (Anthony Quinn)

Rhiannon Haynes-Gibbs, who owns 'Uniquely Yours by Rhi' said she had lost everything as the fire destroyed her rented premises.

She said: "We've lost everything. We're broken. I can't stop crying. I don't know what to do.

"I thought we may have been able to salvage something but after speaking to the fire brigade at 3am it seems it's all gone."

The fire tore through the row of commercial units on Pentrechwith Road in Swansea (Anthony Quinn)
The fire could be seen from across Swansea (Anthony Quinn)
Fire crews stayed all through the night (Sara Phillips)

There are four businesses in the row of commercial units in the Bonymaen area of Swansea, one of which has been there for 24 years, she added. They include Kilvey Cabs, a car paint shop and a car mechanics at the rear.

Residents across the street were evacuated as the fire took hold and smoke billowed across the road.

The fire service said the cause of the fire remains "under investigation".

The units were completely destroyed by the flames (Anthony Quinn)
The fire spread from one end of the row to the other (Sara Phillips)

A spokeswoman for the South Wales Fire Service confirmed crews were still at the scene on Sunday morning.

She said: "We still have some crews in attendance. We were alerted at 10.32pm and attended a fire at a commercial property on Pentrechwyth Road.

"Two crews remain on the scene but we had a variety of crews there. At the height of the incident, we had six fire engines, an aerial appliance and other specialist appliances, including a water bowser."

One of the premises on Pentrechwyth Road on Sunday morning (Richard Swingler)
Some residents were evacuated to the nearby Liberty Stadium through the night (Richard Swingler)
The road was still closed on Sunday morning (Richard Swingler)

On Sunday morning, Duty Inspector Paul Thomas from South Wales Police confirmed that some residents had been evacuated from their homes "for safety".

A spokesman for the force provided an update on Sunday morning and said: "Shortly after 10.30pm last night emergency services were called to a large fire at a garage on Pentrechwyth Road, Pentrechwyth.

"Police officers have attended with fire service and assisted in evacuating a number of houses in the vicinity as a precaution.

"The cause of the fire remains under investigation and a number of local roads remain closed.

"Residents were accommodated overnight at the Liberty Stadium. They have now been able to return to their homes.

"There are no reports of any injuries."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.