DAMAGE: The wrecked house in Queen Victoria Road, Burnley, at the centre of the aerosol blasts Fire crew arrives just after blast rocks terrace AN aerosol explosion blew the roof off a mid-terrace house and gutted two of its rooms.

Building surveyors were called to the property after the three aerosols exploded and said the wall of the kitchen extension of the house in Queen Victoria Road, Burnley, will have to be rebuilt.

The explosion also removed the kitchen roof and blew the front door into two pieces.

Station Officer Paul Harvey said: "Four firefighters wearing breathing equipment went into the house. If we had arrived any earlier then we could have been on the receiving end of the force of the aerosols exploding."

The fire started at 11.30am yesterday when the owner's friend, Thomas Catlow, 18, was using a blow lamp in the kitchen and a fault developed. It started to leak gas which ignited and he dropped it on the floor and it set fire to kitchen units.

Mr Harvey, from Burnley, said: "The fire spread to units and he left the premises to phone the fire brigade.

"The blow lamp exploded and then an aerosol of butane for a cigarette lighter exploded and a container of spray adhesive exploded which spread the fire throughout the ground floor and blew the front door in half.

"We were called to the house at about 11.30am yesterday and found the ground floor well alight.

"The house is now uninhabitable and there is severe damage to the kitchen, living room, hall, stairs and landing."

The house is owned by Michael Dawson, who is now living locally, and declined to comment about the incident.