PEOPLE feared their houses would go up in smoke after a caravan and a car were torched in a street.

Eyewitnesses said people were standing in the street fearing for their houses as firefighters battled with the flames which enveloped a large static caravan and a silver Nissan Primera in St Aidans Avenue, Mill Hill, Blackburn, at around 9.50pm on Sunday.

Lancashire Telegraph:

The caravan, believed to be on private land, was destroyed and the car was also badly damaged.

Neighbouring houses were also damaged during the blaze.

Grenville Rowe, along with his partner Donna Hope, said they were terrified of the fire.

Miss Hope said: “My daughter came running down stairs yelling 'there’s a fire'.

“We were really scared because our house backs onto the land and the caravan was only a couple of yards from our back gate.

“The heat was so intense it cracked the top double-glazed window and threw bits of debris into the garden, it’s a mess.

“The fire was so intense.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Mr Rowe said: “Half the street left their houses and stood on the road hoping the fire would not spread.

“Luckily the fence which surrounded the caravan on our side took the brunt of it.

“Looking at the site you can see gas canisters.

“If one of them had exploded it would have taken a couple of houses out.

“I’m surprised the house next to it didn’t burn down.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

One witness said they could not see the sky due to all the smoke.

Other St Aidan's Avenue residents said the glow could be seen from far away.

Firefighters were at the scene for around two hours.

One St Aidan's Avenue resident said: “You could see the sky glowing from the fire.

“It was feared at the time St Aidan's Church was on fire.

“The flames were rising over the houses.”

A fire service spokesman said the fire had spread to two nearby houses.

The spokesman said the caravan and the abandoned car were badly damaged and the houses had fascia board damage.

John Lucas, 81, whose house was damaged by the fire, said: “I woke up and could hear people outside screaming “John get out of your house”.

“I didn’t realise what was going on. I’m very frustrated and can’t believe my house has been damaged.

“I built this house years ago. I am trying to sell it.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

The fire service spokesman said: “The police, as well as ourselves, have put this down to a deliberate act.

“No one was injured.”

Lancashire Telegraph: