Urgent fire checks after OAP’S death in caravan

Firefighters have visited other similar sites across county

Safety advice has been issued at an Angus caravan park after a fire which claimed the life of a pensioner.

The 81-year-old man perished in the blaze at Woodley Caravan Park on the outskirts of Arbroath in April.

An investigation found it likely the blaze was started by clothing being too close to a heater in the caravan.

The pensioner’s death prompted calls for an urgent tightening of safety regulations.

Scottish Fire and Rescue Service chiefs say risk assessments have now been conducted at similar sites.

The moves were reported to Angus Council’s scrutiny and audit committee.

Fire service spokesman Steven Low

said colleagues received a number of calls from residents on the site as the blaze took hold.

He said: “He was an elderly male who was living alone.

“The likely cause of the incident which caused the fire was accidental, with clothing placed too near to a heater.

“There was a smoke detector and it did activate.”

Crews from Arbroath Fire Station made a series of visits to the Woodley site to offer home safety visits to the residents of each caravan, councillors were told.

Those who declined a visit were given fire safety information packs.

Mr Low continued: “About 50% of the residents took up the offer of a home safety visit, and we left leaflets with all the residents and with the owner of the site. It was well received.”

A joint safety audit of the site was conducted with Angus Council.

Residents of residential caravan parks in Angus may be profiled to identify those potentially at risk from fire.

Mr Low added: “A number of similar sites in Angus are being risk assessed.”

jathomson@thecourier.co.uk

A number of similar sites in Angus are being risk assessed. STEVEN LOW, SCOTTISH FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

The scene of the fatal fire at Woodley Caravan Park.