A DEVASTATED owner of a caravan centre has said thank you to the Highbridge community for rallying together after a huge fire caused an estimated £1million worth of damage.

Phil Davies, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of Highbridge Caravan Centre, said that he could not thank the fire service and local community enough for their help after the business burst into flames last weekend.

The fire, on October 1, saw dozens of fire crews mobilise to the incident on Bristol Road, at 1.38am, after worried calls from members of the public reporting that they could see fire coming from some trees opposite a pub.

Fire crews battled for several hours to extinguish the blaze after gas cylinders on the site started to explode and the fire spread rapidly across the caravan site. 

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said that the cause of the fire remains undetermined.  Mr Davies said: "Everyone has been really supportive, people have done extra days, even coming in during the fire.  "Staff came in on their day off to help us as well as the local community and neighbours.

"The local community in Highbridge were great, there was a real sense of community spirit."

He commended the fire service for their efforts and for doing an amazing job containing the fire.  "When they arrived the fire was spreading towards our workshop and to avoid it getting damaged they created a wall of fire engines between the displays and the workshop.  "The brigade did an amazing job containing the fire, I am just glad that they are alright.

"They were still here for most of Saturday, putting out fires that has restarted again and making the site safe.

"Overall, around 160 caravans have been destroyed and initial predictions suggested in excess of £1million worth of damage was done but it could be more than that.  "It will become more clear once the assessors are finished finding out the exact cost of the damage."

Chard & Ilminster News:

A spokesman for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: “A fire appliance from Burnham-on-Sea was mobilised following a call from a member of the public reporting what they could see as a fire coming from the back of some trees opposite a pub on the Bristol Road.

“However shortly after this we received a call from security staff at caravan centre confirming the fire was involving a shed and fence on site.

“At 1.49am, crews increased the attendance by two further fire appliances, and a water carrier, which all came from Bridgwater, as the fire was getting larger and was near to some caravans.

“At 1.53am, further appliances from Bridgwater, Taunton and Cheddar, together with a command support unit from Street, were mobilised after the fire spread to several caravans that were close together.

“At 2.05am, confirmation came in that the fire was rapidly spreading through the caravan site and involved many LPG cylinders, which had started to explode. At this time we were still receiving calls from members of the public, which exceeded 60 in total.

“Four more fire appliances were mobilised from Taunton, Winscombe (Avon FRS) and Bedminster (Avon FRS). Shortly after this another request came in for two aerial appliances, which came from Weston Super Mare (Avon FRS) and Yeovil.

“After the incident was sectorised, to enable crews to tackle the fire as effectively as possible, and a natural fire break created, after crews moved as many caravans as possible, confirmation was received that good progress was being made, the fire was surrounded and the main fire was now out.

“Police, Ambulance and utility companies were also in attendance.

“No persons were injured and the cause will be determined once the fire has been fully extinguished. Crews confirmed approximately 160 caravans have been destroyed or damaged in this fire.”