THE co-owner of a caravan site where a woman’s body was found after a fire has described how he tried to put out the blaze.

Crews were called to the Merryweather Farm in Hook Norton Road, near Chipping Norton, just after 10pm on Thursday after reports of a motorhome on fire.

Clint Hillier, 62, said: “I was in the house and one of the couples at the caravan site told me the motorhome next to them was on fire.

“I took a load of fire extinguishers to try and put the blaze out, but it was just too intense.

“The firemen were here in a flash and tackled the blaze quickly.”

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Five fire engines were sent to the scene.

Yesterday Thames Valley Police said they had found the body of a woman.

Spokeswoman Rhianne Pope said there was nobody else in the motorhome.

Witney Gazette:

Co-owner of the site Clint Hillier

Mr Hillier said the fire spread to the next caravan but that a couple from Banbury staying in it had managed to escape.

His son Carl, 32, who runs the site with him, said: “Thankfully there were only two caravans staying here on Thursday because it’s not tourist season.

“We’re still a bit shaken by what has happened. In the six years we’ve operated this caravan site we’ve never had anything like this happen.”

Oxford CID and fire investigation officers were at the scene yesterday afternoon to establish the cause.

Witney Gazette:

The entrance to the caravan park

Det Sgt West Mike, speaking at the scene, said: “We do not yet know what caused the fire and the death of the woman, but we are not treating it as suspicious.”

Fire investigation officer Don Crook said: “We are here to assist the police with their investigation and can’t disclose any details.”

Thames Valley Police yesterday said the formal identification of the woman had not yet taken place but the next of kin had been informed.

Father-of-three and caravan engineer Mr Hillier said: “You hear about these sort of blazes all the times in the caravan community.

“One of the reasons why caravans catch fire is because people overload the electricity board by using household appliances like kettles.

“Caravans aren’t homes, and we need to do everything possible to promote caravan safety to prevent this from happening again.

“Owners need to make sure they have batteries in their carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide readers, as those sort of things can save lives.”

 

 

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