July 30, 2014 7.51 am This story is over 116 months old

Caravan arson as fire spreads damaging two flats in Lincoln

Three fires in the area in one night: Two flats on Westwick Drive in Lincoln were severely damaged by a fire which spread from a caravan parked outside the premises.
The fire on Turner Avenue. Photo: Aiste Staraite

Two flats on Westwick Drive in Lincoln were severely damaged by a fire which spread from a caravan parked outside the premises.

This was one of three fires in the area last night that police are treating as arson.

Firefighters were called to the caravan on fire at 1.30am on Wednesday, July 30.

Six Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue crews attended. They extinguished the fire which already spread to the two flats Gainsborough Gardens nearby.

A number of people were evacuated from the flats. No one was seriously injured.

The caravan was destroyed by the fire, while the two flats had severe damage from fire, heat and smoke throughout.

A few minutes earlier before the caravan fire, at 1.28am, firefighters also tackled a car set on fire on Rookery Lane, near Westwick Drive.

The fire started underneath the car tyre.

Firefighters extinguished the Westwick Drive caravan fire which damaged the flats.

Firefighters extinguished the Westwick Drive caravan fire which damaged the flats.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue also attended another fire at around 2am, on Turner Avenue, off Westwick Drive, where a car and the front of a home were set on fire.

Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the fires and Lincolnshire Police are asking for anyone with information to get in touch on the 101 number, quoting incident number 21 of July 30.

The aftermath of the fire at the Westwick Drive flats on Wednesday morning:

Photo: Dean Graham

Photo: Dean Graham

Fire Investigation believe that the caravan fire was a deliberate ignition and police are investigating the incidents as arson.

They are conducting enquiries in the area, and scene examiners have been at various locations conducting forensic investigations.

It is not known if the fires are linked, but given their timings and locations, this will form part of the police enquiry.

Flat-fire-2

Photo: Dean Graham

Detective Sergeant Mark Booth from Lincoln CID said: “I appreciate that these incidents overnight must have been very alarming for local residents.

“A number of people had to be disrupted during the night and are likely to have been scared by the situation.

“I’d like to reassure the community that we’re doing everything we can to seek the offenders, and that although there were several fires last night, such events are rare.

“We will be increasing police presence in the area and urge anyone who has any concerns, or who has any information which may help with our investigations to approach an officer or call 101.”

Flat-fire-1

Photo: Dean Graham