UPDATE: 8.05pm
Gaynor Haines, who lives opposite the flat fire, said she was woken up by someone screaming. "I got up and there was just an inferno."
— Chris Seal (@ArgusCSeal) May 19, 2015
Gaynor added:"It was just an inferno when I looked out the window. It was the screams that woke me up. Its very sad." pic.twitter.com/jfNwpayba9
— Chris Seal (@ArgusCSeal) May 19, 2015
Neighbour Gaynor Haines paid tribute to Samantha Thomas after she died in the fire: "She didn't do any harm to anyone."
— Chris Seal (@ArgusCSeal) May 19, 2015
UPDATE: 5.02pm
A spokesman for Wales & West Utilities said:
“We were alerted to a fire at a flat in St. Dials, Cwmbran, this morning, and sent engineers to the scene.
“The fire had damaged the properties gas supply pipe, and working with South Wales Fire & Rescue Service we made the gas supply safe."
He added: “The public gas network was not affected by this incident.”
UPDATE: 5.00pm
Local residents said they were woken up by "screaming and shouting" at around 6.40am this morning.
Stephen Bates was woken up by a 'Big Bang' and 'screaming and shouting' from the flat fire in Cwmbran. pic.twitter.com/PMDKaI7irW
— Chris Seal (@ArgusCSeal) May 19, 2015
"I was shaking this morning, thinking about the people in the fire. I phoned the fire brigade and asked them to come as soon as possible."
— Chris Seal (@ArgusCSeal) May 19, 2015
UPDATE: 4.45PM.
Our reporter Chris Seal is at the scene.
Superintendent Marc Budden and South Wales Fire Service area manager Ian Greenman read statements outside the house pic.twitter.com/9h9iT2G0hc
— Chris Seal (@ArgusCSeal) May 19, 2015
Ian Greenman, area manager, said the fire service would like to extend their sympathies to the family. pic.twitter.com/B0o7aNBwbQ
— Chris Seal (@ArgusCSeal) May 19, 2015
"We are now working closely with our Gwent Police colleagues to carry out a full investigation and await the outcomes of this inquiry."
— Chris Seal (@ArgusCSeal) May 19, 2015
"I would like to thank the firefighters from our Cwmbran, Malpas and New Inn stations for their sterling efforts in difficult circumstances"
— Chris Seal (@ArgusCSeal) May 19, 2015
UPDATE: 4.04pm
Superintendent Marc Budden makes a statement to the press at Shakespeare Road.
UPDATE: 3.52pm
Gwent police and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have made official statements at the scene of the incident on Shakespeare Road.
Superintendent Marc Budden said: "We were called at 6.43am this morning to a fire at an address on Shakespeare Road, St Dials, Cwmbran.
"A female was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. She can now be named as 29-year-old Samantha Thomas from Cwmbran.
"A 49-year-old man from Cwmbran, was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital with smoke inhalation, and has since been arrested on suspicion of murder.
"The address affected was one of a block of four flats. The remaining flats have been evacuated, and our emergency planning department is working with the local authority and Bron Afon Community Housing to arrange alternative accommodation for them.
"We remain at the scene with the fire service to undertake further enquiries.
"Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to call 101 quoting log 33 19/05/15."
Ian Greenman, area manager from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, also read a statement.
He said: "I wish to extend my sympathies on behalf of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service to the family and friends of the individual who sadly lost their life today.
"We are now working closely with our Gwent Police colleagues to carry out a full investigation and await the outcomes of this inquiry.
"I would also like to thank the firefighters from our Cwmbran, Malpas and New Inn stations for their sterling efforts in dealing with this incident under difficult circumstances."
UPDATE: 2.37pm
A 49-year-old man from Cwmbran has been arrested on suspicion of murder after this morning's fatal fire.
The man was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after the blaze in which a woman died.
She has now be named as 29-year-old Samantha Thomas from Cwmbran.
The address affected was one of a block of four flats. The remaining flats have been evacuated, and our Emergency Planning department is working with the local authority and Bron Afon Community Housing to arrange alternative accommodation for them.
We remain at the scene with the Fire Service to undertake further enquiries.
Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to call 101 quoting log 33 19/05/15.
Nikki Mahagan, 34, a resident, said he woke up to crackling sounds like gun fire. He said he looked out and saw the flat on fire.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
Emergency services are still at the scene this afternoon. They have closed the road but are allowing residents access.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
Ms Lamb said the woman who has died was a lovely girl. The woman is believed to be in her late 20's.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
Anita Lamb, a neighbour, said she knew the family of the man who lives at the flat very well.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
It is thought there were two people in the first floor flat when the fire started.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
Neighbours say they tried to get a ladder to climb up to the woman who was on the balcony of the flat on fire.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
He said he and two other boys tried to help the woman who was trapped on the balcony. He said the flat was engulfed in flames.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
He said there was a family sleeping in the flat next door to the one on fire. They had two young children and the knocking woke them up.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
David Leedham, 20, and others knocked on doors to get people out of their homes due to the fire.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
Cllr Liz Haynes, member for St Dials, said: "I'm knocking on doors to check if everyone is okay after this tragedy. It is devastating."
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
Ms Lamb said she woke up her daughter and her daughter's boyfriend. They phoned the emergency services and then went to knock on doors.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
Argus reporter Carys Thomas is at the scene:
Anita Lamb, 60, said she heard strange noises and saw smoke coming from the gutters of the first floor flat.
— Carys Thomas (@ArgusCThomas) May 19, 2015
UPDATE: 12.06PM
Duncan Forbes, chief executive of Bron Afon, who owned the flats, said: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the woman who died this morning. We have found alternative accommodation for seven residents who were evacuated and will be offering any help needed by the police and fire service in their investigation. One resident said they have found somewhere to stay.”
UPDATE: 11.20AM
BRON Afon have confirmed they own the property involved in the fire.
A spokeswoman said the building contains four flats-two on the top floor and two on the bottom floor.
Gwent Police have said those living in the remaining flats have been evacuated, and their Emergency Planning department is working with the local authority and housing association to arrange alternative accommodation for them.
It is not yet known how many people live in the building.
UPDATE: 10:27AM
A FIRE SERVICE spokesman said the gas board attended the property earlier today to secure the internal gas supply and plan to return at 3pm today to secure the external gas supply as a safety measure.
UPDATE 10.17AM
GWENT Police have confirmed a woman has died at the scene.
A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: "We were called at 6.43am this morning to a fire at an address on Shakespeare Road, St Dials, Cwmbran.
"A female has pronounced dead at the scene, and one man has been taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital with smoke inhalation.
"The address affected was one of a block of four flats. The remaining flats have been evacuated, and our Emergency Planning department is working with the local authority and housing association to arrange alternative accommodation for them."
Police and the Fire Service are currently undertaking further enquiries to establish the cause of the fire.
No road closures are in place, however, traffic disruption in the area should be expected.
Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked to call 101 quoting log 33 19/05/15.
UPDATE: 10.06AM
A MAN has been taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 6.56am this morning, Tuesday 19 May, to a fire at an address on Shakespeare Road in the St Dials area of Cwmbran. We sent an emergency ambulance, two rapid response cars and the Trust’s Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene. A man with smoke inhalation was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital.”
A fire service spokesman confirmed residents were present in the building at the time of the blaze .
The blaze is now out, with crews recieving a stop message at 9.05am.
Around 19 fire fighters were called to the fire on the first floor of the two-storey residential building at 6.38am and 15 fire fighters remain on scene.
Shakespeare Road is still closed in both directions between Greenmeadow Way and Blenheim Road shut and police are directing traffic. There are no estimates as to how long the road will remain closed but no major delays have been reported.
A fire service investigation has been launched to establish the cause of the fire.
UPDATE: 9.10AM
CREWS are tackling a flat fire on Shakespeare Road St Dials, Cwmbran.
The road is shut while crews from Malpas, New Inn and two crews from Cwmbran tackle the blaze.
Four breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets, two thermal image cameras and two safety jets are in use.
Crews were called to the two-storey residential building at 6.38am and remain on scene.
The road is shut and police are directing traffic.
The fire service could not confirm the cause of the fire.
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