A man is in hospital with serious injuries after a devastating blaze ripped through a home in Northumberland.
A neighbour told ChronicleLive she heard a "massive bang" at around 7.20pm on Sunday with ferocious flames coming from a semi-detached house on Sunnyside in Cramlington.
Nearby residents were evacuated from their homes for around two hours as a huge emergency service response descended on the scene.
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One man was then taken to hospital with serious injuries where he remains today - though his current condition is not known.
Paul Hedley, chief fire officer, at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We received a number of calls to reports of a house fire at a house in Sunnyside, Cramlington, at 7.20pm on Sunday, February 5.
“Our crews from West Hartford were quickly at the scene and a male casualty was taken to hospital by paramedics. The property has suffered extensive damage and a full investigation is now underway."
A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 19.22pm yesterday to reports of a house fire at a private address in Sunnyside, Cramlington.
"We sent one doctor, four Hazardous Area Response Team vehicles and three emergency ambulances. One patient was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary."
Emergency services have remained at the scene throughout the night and into Monday morning. A gasworks cordon is currently in place outside the house with workers from Northern Gas Networks in attendance.
Pictures from the scene show the property completely destroyed by fire, with all of the front windows blown out, while all that remains of the roof are charred beams.
Northumbria Police confirmed officers are now working to establish the events which led up to the fire.
A spokesman said: “Shortly after 7.20pm yesterday (Sunday), we were alerted to a house fire at a property on Sunnyside Road, Cramlington.
“Officers and emergency services attended the scene and one man was taken to hospital, where he remains, with serious injuries.
“Due to concerns over the safety of the property, a number of residents in the street were evacuated.
“Enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing.”
Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service and Northern Gas Networks have been contacted for comment.
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