Multiple electrical appliances plugged into a single supply have been blamed for a blaze which destroyed a caravan in March.
Fire chiefs believe the appliances overloaded the supply to the caravan which caught fire on Saturday evening on an industrial yard in Creek Road.
It is thought a young mum had been living in the caravan but was not there when the blaze set hold.
The caravan was parked next to two other residential units in Brownlow’s Yard but they were not affected.
The yard is owned by well known March businessman Mick Brownlow and his son, Matthew, had until recently been living there with his girl friend.
Matthew, known locally as Maff, has been away but neighbours believe his girl friend was still living there – although she was luckily not at home when the fire took hold.
Fire crews were soon on the scene and once the fire was contained allowed workmen from UK Power into the yard to sort out the electricity supplies.
Our reporter at the scene says two cars at the front of the burnt out wreck of the caravan appear to have escaped the flames. The two neighbouring vans are thought to be occupied by migrant workers.
Businesses in the yard – which include a car repairs company and a furniture workshop-, also escaped damage.
One near neighbour reported that there never appeared any fear of the fire spreading to other homes in the area.
The neighbour said: “The fire service was here very quickly and contained the damage.”
A fire service spokesman said a crew from March, one crew from Wisbech, one crew from Chatteris and one crew from Whittlesey attended.
“A static caravan was well alight and crews set up a water shuttle from a nearby hydrant and used jets to extinguish the fire by 8.38pm,” said the spokesman.
Station Commander Paul Clarke said: “The caravan was 100 per cent involved in the fire and despite the crews’ best efforts, was not saveable.
“Following a thorough joint investigation with the police, it was determined that the most likely cause of the fire was accidental, believed to caused by multiple electrical appliances being plugged into one supply and overloading it.
“This is a timely reminder as we enter national Electrical Safety Week, to remind residents to never overload plug sockets. We would also encourage residents to regularly get their electrics checked by a qualified electrician on a regular basis.”
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