A van fire in Winchester’s Stanmore estate sparked concern among residents early this morning
Winchester: The fire kicked off around 12:40 AM on January 7, right on a quiet one-way street. A van, which was linked to a recovery company, was parked outside a home.
Emergency crews were on the scene pretty quickly, with a fire engine arriving just six minutes later at 12:46 AM.
A student from the University of Winchester, who saw the whole thing unfold, mentioned hearing loud crashes and seeing flashes of light. They peeked out their skylight and saw people shouting.
When they stepped outside, a fire truck was already pulling up. Folks nearby were worried about the van’s battery and speculated that magnesium might have caused the sparks.
It was a bit surprising that the police took a while to arrive, and some residents even grabbed their garden hoses to help douse the flames.
By 1:11 AM, a police van showed up to lend a hand. The emergency teams checked the area with heat sensors to make sure everything was safe.
Luckily, no one was hurt, but the cause of the fire is still a mystery.
A crowd formed to watch, including students and families, but they quickly scattered once the fire was under control.
One neighbor reported hearing loud bangs and seeing flashes around 12:41 AM, along with shouts urging people to move away.
Both the police and fire services have been contacted for more information.
