TWO houses will be demolished and rebuilt following a fire in Trevethin last month.

Residents in Central Drive were evacuated from their homes on January 19 after a fire started accidentally.

Serious damage to two properties and smoke damage to another two homes meant three families were forced to stay with friends and relatives while Bron Afon Community Housing, which owns the terrace homes, assessed the damage.

Bron Afon’s project manager, Jonathan Hyde, said the structural engineer’s report shows two homes will need to be demolished and rebuilt while another home, severely damaged by the fire, will need to be partially rebuilt.

The work is expected to start around the end of the month.

He said accommodation has been arranged for two of the families and they are working on finding a suitable home for the third family.

Bron Afon thanked the “speedy response” from local businesses including Freemanz Flooring in Abersychan, Aardvark Electricals in Pontnewydd and Stanley and West in Pontypool, who helped prepare the homes for the families to move into.

Local people also donated money and items for the families affected by the blaz.

Bron Afon’s chief executive, Duncan Forbes, has also written to two insulation contractors, who were working in Central Drive at the time of the fire, thanking them for their involvement. Graeme Furlong and Anne Barnett, from SERS, were carrying out external rendering and re-roofing work at the time and helped co-ordinate the evacuation of around 15 people.

Mr Furlong said SERS intends to make a donation to the local collection fund.