Smoke and shattered glass lit the sky above Worsdell Drive on Sunday afternoon as emergency crews worked to bring a blaze under control at the Ochre Yards flats on Gateshead’s south bank of the River Tyne. A woman, reported to be in her 20s, sustained injuries after jumping from her balcony to escape the fire and was taken to hospital with conditions not believed to be life‑threatening.
Rapid response as residents evacuated
Emergency services were called shortly after 12.30pm, Northumbria Police said. Officers, firefighters and ambulance crews attended the scene where occupants of neighbouring properties were evacuated as a precaution while the incident was dealt with.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) deployed substantial resources to tackle the fire. Photographs taken at the scene showed heavy smoke damage to the flats and smashed windows. Furniture inside at least one flat appeared to have been destroyed and a cordon was set up while crews worked.
- Time: Just after 12.30pm on Sunday
- Location: Ochre Yards flats, Worsdell Drive, Gateshead
- Casualties: One woman, in her 20s, taken to hospital with injuries including a suspected broken ankle; not believed to be life‑threatening
- Investigation: Enquiries ongoing; at this early stage the fire is not being treated as malicious
What the emergency services said
"Just after 12.30pm today (Sunday), we received a report of concern for the safety of a person in Gateshead... A woman, aged in her 20s, was found to have sustained injuries not believed to be life‑threatening, including a suspected broken ankle. She was taken to hospital for treatment."
The force statement confirms police were among the first on scene after the report of a person in danger. Fire crews extinguished the blaze, and Northumbria Police said that enquiries are continuing to determine the cause.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service sent four fire engines to the incident along with an aerial ladder platform and two officers. The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) attended with two ambulance crews, two hazardous area response team (HART) crews and a clinical team leader.
| Service | Resources deployed |
|---|---|
| Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service | 4 fire engines, aerial ladder platform, 2 officers |
| North East Ambulance Service | 2 ambulance crews, 2 HART crews, clinical team leader |
| Northumbria Police | Scene officers, cordon and ongoing enquiries |
Residents left shaken
Locals described an atmosphere of alarm as neighbours were led away from the building while emergency workers formed a cordon. The woman who jumped from the balcony was treated at the scene before being transported to hospital; police said the injuries included a suspected broken ankle but were not considered life‑threatening.
At this stage the incident is not being treated as malicious and detectives are working to establish the cause. With windows smashed and smoke damage reported, the impact on those living in the affected block will extend beyond the initial evacuation, and residents may face short‑term displacement while safety checks are carried out.
I spoke with passerby and neighbours while at the scene; many expressed relief that the injured woman had been taken to hospital and appreciation for the swift work of the emergency services. Several people said the scale of the response underlined how seriously crews treated the situation.
Ochre Yards is part of the changing riverside landscape on Gateshead’s southern bank and any disruption there can ripple through a closely knit local community. Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward as enquiries continue.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact Northumbria Police quoting the incident reference provided by officers. Further updates will be provided by the emergency services as enquiries progress.
