A substantial fire destroyed five homes in Newbridge, Caerphilly county, on Wednesday afternoon, forcing residents to evacuate to a nearby leisure center. The blaze occurred on Hazlewood Road, and while no casualties have been reported, some residents have lost their homes and are being provided with temporary accommodation.

Local councilor Adrian Hussey stated that residents attempted to extinguish the fire themselves but had to flee due to its intensity. The affected homes were "absolutely gutted," with cars also sustaining damage. Streets in the vicinity were evacuated as emergency services responded to the severe fire. Firefighters were observed spraying water on the scene, and the land in front of the houses appeared scorched.

An aerial photo of the scene, showing the full extent of a blackened patch of land. The burned homes are on a resident street, with another row of housing behind.

The full extent of the damage became apparent from aerial views, showing a row of homes with destroyed roofs and smoke billowing into the air. The adjacent residential street and other houses behind the affected bungalows were visible in the wider shots of the incident.