Arson ruled out over Oswestry campervan gas explosion
[gallery] Arson has been ruled out as the cause of a huge blaze which ripped through a campervan and the front of a house in Oswestry.
A gas cylinder exploded inside a camper van which was parked directly outside a house in Wilfred Owen Road but fire chiefs say have ruled out the possibility of the fire being started deliberately.
Neighbours described seeing flames reaching 40ft into the sky when the fire was at its peak.
The blaze, which destroyed the van and damaged the roof of the house, started at about 4am on Monday and could be seen from across town.
Ian Leigh, fire service station manager and fire investigation officer, said: "There were two people in the property who both made their escape.
"They were awakened by two passers-by. The damage to the house is fairly significant.
"There's damage to the front roof section and crews continue to work to make sure that's as safe as possible.
"There were two gas cylinders, one of which exploded.
"We've got debris up to 100m away.
"It highlights how dangerous gas canisters can be when involved in a fire – they can go bang."
Mr Leigh said the incident also highlighted the importance of having an escape plan and working fire alarms.
"One of the things we wanted to get across is having an escape plan.
"They knew how to get out and they got out quickly and safely," he said.
"They also had smoke alarms fitted and they were working, so they would have been able to get out even if they hadn't been woken by the passers by."
The road was cordoned off from both the Middleton Road and Hazel Grove ends for the rest of the morning while firefighters from Oswestry, Ellesmere and Baschurch tackled the blaze and cleared up the area after the flames were put out.
An aerial ladder was used to remove roof tiles so that the roof space could be inspected and checks could be made for hot spots.
A road sweeper arrived later in the morning to clear debris from the road, including large pieces of fibreglass which were blown away from the camper van by the explosion.
A neighbour who did not wish to be named said: "It was horrible.
"There were pieces of stuff lying all over the road and some of the other neighbours were out in the street.
"The couple are really nice.
"I think maybe they were getting ready to go on holiday in the campervan, so it's such a shame."
Tom Edwards, who lives in Middleton Road in the town, added: "I live about about half a mile away and could see it and I have been told you could see it from a mile away.
"It must have been 40ft in the air."
