Arsonists blamed as fireball van leaves residents 'screaming'
Police are hunting arsonists after a van was torched in a Stoke-on-Trent street. Screams were heard as the vehicle was engulfed in flames in Fenton.
Video footage, taken by residents, showed the dramatic scene as firefighters battled to get the blaze under control before it could spread to nearby homes. The charred remains of a fireball van remained in Oldfield Street earlier this week and a house appeared to have suffered minor damage.
An investigation has since revealed that the blue Ford Transit van was deliberately set on fire. Now Staffordshire Police are appealing for witnesses, CCTV and dashcam footage of the incident, which happened in the early hours of Saturday (January 25).
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A force spokesman said: "We are appealing for information after a van was deliberated set alight in Stoke-on-Trent. We were called at 12.15am on Saturday to Oldfield Street in Fenton after a blue Ford Transit van was found burnt out.
"Colleagues from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service had attended the scene and put out the fire. No one was reported injured. The fire was later deemed as having been started deliberately. Anyone with any information, relevant CCTV or dashcam footage, should contact us."
Discussing the incident on social media, residents spoke of it being a 'scary' and 'horrible', with many saying they didn't get any sleep. One person said: "I witnessed all this, had to phone the fire engine. A lady came running over to me and my partner was screaming."
Another added: "I’ve not slept, so scary. I was in the front with my nine week old baby, horrible. Feels like my final straw for this street honestly."
Witnesses are asked to call 101 quoting incident number 12 of January 25. To report anonymously, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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