Fryer blaze leaves chip shop gutted (From Free Press Series)

Fryer blaze leaves chip shop gutted

STAFF in a Gwent fish and chip shop had a narrow escape on Monday after the building was engulfed in flames.

Shops and businesses nearby, including the local post office, were evacuated when the fire broke out in the Pontnewydd Fish Bar in New Street, Pontnewydd, Cwmbran, at 11.40am.

Within minutes, 10 firefighters were battling the blaze and smoke could be seen from Cwmbran town centre.

The end-of-terrace building was left completely gutted, but there were no injuries. Two staff from the shop were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation by an ambulance crew.

Owner Paul Noake, who was not in the building at the time, said he had a frantic call from his manager Alun Jones, who was on duty.

"I had just finished my shift and gone home - I rushed straight over and the flames were already coming out of the window," said Mr Noake.

"The fryer just went up, it must be some sort of fault. Thankfully both the staff who were in the shop are safe. It's a real shock for us all."

Beryl-Lyn Niblett works for Swinton Insurance in a neighbouring building. "We heard shouting and ran out, you could see the fryer going up in flames," she said.

"We were just screaming to Alun to get out, because he was trying to put it out.

"It was so frightening - we were waiting for an explosion."

Simon Bollen, also of Swinton Insurance, said: "It's really lucky, it could have been a lot worse.

"The fire brigade was here in minutes and everyone was evacuated from the neighbouring buildings."

A fire service spokeswoman described the blaze as an accident and confirmed crews had stopped the flames from spreading to the next door property.

Police initially attended the scene but are not treating the incident as suspicious.

Businesses and shops were reopened at 1pm after fire crews secured the site.