LISTEN: Elderly woman escapes injury after aerosol explodes beside cooker in Co Armagh

By Q Radio News

An elderly woman has escaped injury following an explosion in her Portadown home which was caused by an aerosol left too close to the cooker.  

Emergency services - including two fire appliances - attended the scene on Selshion Parade just after 3.30pm today.  

It was initially feared the blast was caused by a gas explosion.

However a Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told Q Radio the incident involved an aerosol can which had been left too close to the hob of a cooker. 

"It gradually heated up until the point where it ignited and exploded," they explained. 

"The pensioner was upstairs at the time and therefore avoided injury, however she has been left badly shaken.

"The house itself has suffered quite a bit of damage."  

It's understood firefighters used gas monitors on the property and adjoining properties to check readings which all showed up as normal.

A gas engineer was also tasked to attend the incident. 

A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service spokesman said a rapid response paramedic and an ambulance officer attended the scene at 3.39pm, but no one required hospital treatment. 

DUP MP Carla Lockhart says the occupant is "extremely fortunate". 

The Upper Bann representative also thanked the emergency services for responding quickly and reassuring local residents.