A CAR that “exploded” in a suspected act of arson has gutted a nearby terrace in Abergele.

The cause of the initial blaze, which spread to five nearby private garages, on Stryd-Y-Dderwen in the Belgrano area of the town at about 12am on Sunday, May 12 is believed to have been deliberate.

Eyewitness James McEvilly, a resident of the nearby Maes Gele on the Belgrano estate, said: “The first we knew of it, there were some explosions and I went outside after one loud bang to see the fire engine and a man trying to push another car on the right hand side away.

“You could see that his hands were burnt and that he has a bump on his head. The car he was moving, a black BMW had melted from the heat of the fire.

“The car fire then spread to the front of one of the garages and then they all went up very quickly. The fire crews put it out pretty quickly though.

“It was such a surprise - in 30 years of living here I’d never seen anything like it.”

Crews from Abergele and Rhyl took about an hour and a half to contain the fire, which gutted one of the garages and has severely damaged the others, calling a stop at about 1.30pm.

A spokesperson for North Wales Fire and Rescue said: “We were called at 11.54pm on Sunday, May 12 to a car fire in Belgrano, Abergele which spread to a terrace of five private garages.

“The fire is thought to have been started deliberately.”

The spokesperson confirmed that the Welsh Ambulance Service (WAS) was in attendance, treating a casualty at the scene for burns to their hands. The WAS has been approached for comment.

A spokesperson for North Wales Police confirmed that they were also in attendance at the scene to support fire crews.

The day after the event, police returned to the scene which has been cordoned off during the investigation.

Anyone with any information regarding the fire whereabouts is urged to contact police by calling 101 quoting reference number X065280.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.