Residents in Vulcan Street “nervously” wished each other a Merry Christmas while fire crews tackled a blaze just before midnight on Christmas Day.
Four fire engines, with crews from Bedford, Kempston and Sandy attended the fire at the two-storey mid-terrace property until the early hours on Boxing Day.
Bedfordshire Police were called just after midnight on 26 December, following reports of a ‘strong smell of cannabis’ coming from the housefire.
Several cannabis plants were seized and an investigation into the cultivation of cannabis at the property is ongoing.
Carly Morris, a Vulcan Street resident, said she heard “a couple of loud bangs” around 11:00pm – 11:15pm.
She headed to bed at 11:30 and heard lots of shouting and door-banging in the street.
Looking out the window, a woman informed her that another property was on fire.
Carly said: “We went outside the front of our house and saw smoke coming from [the property’s] roof, and seemingly first floor too. It didn’t feel real, especially with everyone nervously wishing everyone a merry Christmas while it was happening.”
She said three fire engines arrived but couldn’t get past a white car that was parked in the middle of the road. She said firefighters had to extend their hoses to reach the house.
Carly described watching firefighters break down the houses front door as it was locked.
A spokesperson from Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service said: “Ten firefighters using breathing apparatus tackled the fire using 2 safety jets and 2 covering jets. The scene was left in the hands of the police.”
The first floor was 100% damaged by fire.
Carly said fire crews were still on hand when she headed to bed around 3am.
She said a police car remained in the street for two days.
Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service carried out a reinspection on Boxing Day and a fire investigation was undertaken.
No further details are available at this time as this is an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 or via our online reporting centre, quoting the reference 40/69369/21.
