ALLOA residents described their shock after they were evacuated from their homes when a garden shed containing gas canisters caught fire.

Three fire engines and a command unit with a total of 24 crew rushed to the blaze, at around 7.30pm on Saturday (28 February).

Neighbours on Churchill Street reported hearing several bangs coming from the burning garage, and some residents fled the area in bathrobes and pyjamas.

One witness said: “It was a shock. When we’ve seen it I couldn’t believe my eyes.

“It was the explosions that got me, I was sitting here and turned the telly down and I thought it was neighbours fighting, but it was bang, bang, bang and folk on the streets screaming. It was a fright and I’m just glad nobody was hurt.” People were initially asked to stay inside, but within a few hours, residents of nearby properties were evacuated by police and the streets around the incident were cordoned off.

A Scottish Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said three liquid petroleum gas cylinders, plus two containing oxygen and acetylene, were spotted at the scene.

The fire crews’ job was made harder by abysmal weather, but the blaze was eventually extinguished and the cylinders were removed.

The spokesperson added: “Due to the particular hazards associated with acetylene cylinders involved in fires, a safety cordon was established around the incident which necessitated a number of nearby domestic properties being evacuated for safety reasons.

“At 11.02pm the incident was deemed safe for fire crews to dampen down and remove the cylinders from the area. At 11.20pm all residents were permitted to return to their properties.

“At this time the cause of the fire is unknown, investigations to continue.”