Oxfordshire caravan dwellers locked out of park overnight

People living at Oaks caravan park in Fyfield Wick, near Kingston Bagpuize about six miles west of Abingdon, do not know when they will be able to return back to their caravans.

Some 125 firefighters from 14 manned fire engines, seven specialists vehicles and more were called to the the park, home to less than 30 static caravans, on Sunday evening, July 12.

Residents were evacuated from the scene by emergency services and directed towards nearby Kingston Colts Football Club, where support was on hand.

People have been told they can't enter their caravan at Oaks caravan park in Fyfield Wick (Image: Matt Simpson)

A fire engine leaves Oaks caravan park in Fyfield Wick (Image: Matt Simpson)

Police at Oaks caravan park in Fyfield Wick (Image: Matt Simpson)

Fire crews at the caravan park fire in Oxfordshire. (Image: Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service)

On Monday morning, police were on-guard at the closed entrance and exit gates with dozens of residents, who stood looking in and locked out.

Vale of White Horse District Council said it has temporarily rehoused 12 households.

Meanwhile, almost 1,600 homes in the area, including in Southmoor and Kingston Bagpuize, were without power as a result of the fire, expected to be repaired by 5.30pm on Monday (July 13).

Residents spoken to by the Oxford Mail said they had received no communication from anybody official to say when they will be allowed back in the park.

"We have not been kept up to date by anybody, we don't know when we can go back in," said one man who asked for anonymity.

Another woman added: "We've been locked out of the park with just the clothes on our back. Everything we own is in there and we cannot get in."

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A third person said: "The owner of the park has been down here doing everything he can to help, but he hasn't been told much either."

It was claimed that the fire was started by a barbecue, which had spread and caused wider damage.

Oxfordshire County Council could not confirm a cause of the fire, but said crews left early Monday afternoon.

What is known from a policeman on-scene is that the fire had caused damage to the electrical system, rendering it unsafe for ordinary people to go within the area.

He said: "For health and safety reasons, nobody is allowed in here until the all-clear has been given."

Police at Oaks caravan park in Fyfield Wick (Image: Matt Simpson)

Fire crews at the scene. (Image: Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service)

Cars have been parked at the side of the road outside the caravan park (Image: Matt Simpson)

Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) engineers were requested to make safe the electricity network equipment that was damaged.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's spokesman, who described the fire as "significant", said the fire is being treated as accidental.

More than 30 999 calls came in alerting crews to the blaze, with plumes of smoke could be seen in the sky from afar.

Fire crews from services in Dorset and Wiltshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire all joined in the effort to control the blaze.

Eleven further crews remained on-scene throughout the night dealing with the incident, with a presence still remaining until early afternoon.

Vale of White Horse District Council said it has rehoused 12 households who have been forced out.

A spokeswoman said: "Officers from our Housing Needs and Emergency planning teams attended the fire at a caravan park in Fyfield Wick near Kingston Bagpuize on Sunday evening.

"The whole site was unsafe for residents to return to on Sunday night and in cases where residents could not make alternative arrangements our officers helped to find them alternative accommodation.

"Our teams worked in partnership with Thames Valley Police, the Fire and Rescue service, Oxfordshire County Council and the British Red Cross to ensure that residents were supported and had accommodation after the fire.

"Our Housing officers in attendance provided temporary emergency accommodation for 12 households on Sunday evening and we will continue to provide ongoing support until they can return home or find alternative accommodation."

An Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Fire control staff from the joint Thames Valley Fire Control Service have spent the past 12 hours co-ordinating significant resource movements and ensuring fire cover across the wider Thames Valley, along with multiple other incidents.

"There are no reported injuries from the incident, and the cause of the fire is currently considered accidental. Fire investigation will continue today.

"Across the UK, fire crews have dealt with high numbers of incidents in the hot, dry weather and urge the public to continue to take additional care whilst the risk of fires starting remains very high."