AN EVACUATION led by fire crews following a gas leak in Yate has raised concern over the possible cuts to night cover at Yate Fire Station.

Avon Fire and Rescue Services from Yate, Patchway and Kingswood fire stations were called at 6.50pm on Saturday, 15.

There was a strong smell of gas and the services immediately evacuated residents in Blaisdon, Yate, and led them to safety.

Resident, Ryan Wilson, said: “This incident shows that overnight fire services are needed and not just a nine to five service.”

Gary Spindler, from the Avon Fire Brigade Union said: “The fire service is indeed required 24/7. The public deserve a response from the service whenever required – emergencies occur at any time and as such we need to be there to respond to them.

“We believe that removing whole time fire cover at Yate Fire Station from 5pm to 8am is a move that will increase the time it takes for us to respond. Whichever way you look at it, this can only increase the risk to not only the public, but also to the firefighters responding.”

The hazardous leak on Saturday evening was caused due to a ruptured gas pipe after an estate agency’s sign was put up in the front garden of one of a rented properties earlier that day.

After the wooden spike of the sign punctured the gas main a smell of gas filled the area causing residents to alert the police and fire services.

Angie Davis was one of the residents at risk. She said: “I was at my boyfriend’s house when we were asked to go out the back of the property. We decided it was best to leave the area and went to his dad’s house.”

An engineer from the Transco gas board sorted the problem within an hour and everyone was returned to their properties.

Edison Ford Estate Agents are carrying out an investigation into how it happened and awaiting additional information from parties involved.

Property manager, Steve Clowes, said: “Having been established for over 25 years, we are surprised by this incident. We have sold and let many homes for many clients in this area over this period of time and have never encountered a situation like this before.

“There have been many signs erected in lots of garden by us and other agents over the years, we have yet to establish what was different about the garden of this house.

“We are sorry of course for any inconvenience caused to people affected by this incident.

We are extremely glad that no one was injured during this incident and thank all the services involved.”

On behalf of the fire bridage's union, Mr Spindler, added: “Central government cuts imposed upon Avon Fire Authority mean we are being left with less firefighters and less fire stations.

“We believe these cuts are unnecessary both on a local and national scale. Instead central government should start to fund our fire service to an appropriate level rather than strip them to dangerously low levels.”