Motorhome destroyed in West Felton blaze

A motorhome has been destroyed in a fire in West Felton which left one man needing hospital treatment. He rushed to move gas canisters away from the blazing vehicle.

It also caused damage to vehicle owner Peter Penhale's house.

Mr Penhale has been praised by firefighters for having the presence of mind to move potentially lethal gas canisters away from the blaze. Two smaller gas canisters did explode, although nobody was injured by them.

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Fire crews and paramedics were called to Willow Crescent in West Felton yesterday morning.

John Davies, Oswestry fire station manager, said: "The motorhome was parked on the man's driveway.

"He was working on the electrics of the motorhome when the fire broke out.

"He got out of it and moved another vehicle off the driveway and went back to try to move the motorhome.

"The flames and smoke were too much but he managed to move gas cylinders. He did well to move them because if they had gone up the damage would have been a lot worse.

"The fire destroyed the motorhome and the heat radiated from it to the house and there was damage to the front of the house."

Firefighter Alan Walker said Mr Penhale moved two large canisters but two smaller canisters did explode.

He said: "We heard a bang when we were arriving and found two had gone off. It could have been a tragedy."

Mr Penhale's wife Elaine Penhale thanked firefighters and paramedics, who treated her husband for smoke inhalation.

She said: "My husband was taken to hospital but he is OK and due home soon."