Fire at traveller encampment in Port Solent destroys caravan

FIRE crews were called to a caravan blaze after residents heard ‘explosions’ coming from a traveller encampment in Port Solent last night.
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Three appliances from Cosham Fire Station and Portchester Fire Station attended the incident in the Portsmouth City Council-owned field, south of Port Solent, at 10.40pm last night.

It comes after more than 30 caravans appeared on the field south of Solent Marina on Sunday.

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A resident of the area, who asked not to be named, said they heard explosions last night, followed by screaming and shouting as a large plume of smoke filled the air.

A caravan was destroyed in a fire at Port Solent where a traveller encampment sprang up. The fire on August 5 was tackled by Cosham and Portchester crews. Picture: Portchester fire stationA caravan was destroyed in a fire at Port Solent where a traveller encampment sprang up. The fire on August 5 was tackled by Cosham and Portchester crews. Picture: Portchester fire station
A caravan was destroyed in a fire at Port Solent where a traveller encampment sprang up. The fire on August 5 was tackled by Cosham and Portchester crews. Picture: Portchester fire station

They said: ‘It was a caravan, occupied by one man.

‘They had to act quickly to remove lots of gas canisters from the surrounding areas, so quick thinking and decisive action by fellow residents saved the situation from becoming a lot more serious.

‘Unfortunately the caravan was destroyed.

‘The fire service arrived very quickly.’

A caravan was destroyed in a fire at Port Solent where a traveller encampment sprang up. The fire on August 5 was tackled by Cosham and Portchester crews. Picture: Portchester fire stationA caravan was destroyed in a fire at Port Solent where a traveller encampment sprang up. The fire on August 5 was tackled by Cosham and Portchester crews. Picture: Portchester fire station
A caravan was destroyed in a fire at Port Solent where a traveller encampment sprang up. The fire on August 5 was tackled by Cosham and Portchester crews. Picture: Portchester fire station
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A firefighter attending the scene from Cosham fire station said the caravan was ‘completely destroyed’ by the fire.

He said: ‘The caravan was completely destroyed, and we have no idea how the fire was started at present.

‘We got back after midnight.

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‘No one was injured – police, but no ambulance, attended the scene.’

Earlier in the week, police issued a statement saying they are ‘engaging’ with the travellers, with skips and portable toilets provided by Portsmouth City Council.

The authority is taking steps to evict the encampment.

Fire service controllers tweeted: ‘We received a number of fire calls to this incident, several of which did not have an address.

‘When you call 999 we will use our professional skills and tools to our disposal to ascertain the address but please #helpustohelpyou by knowing where the incident is.'

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A crew from Portchester also attended. Firefighters used two breathing apparatus, a hose reel and water shuttle to tackle the blaze.

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