A pale blue VW camper van erupted in flames this afternoon on the corner of Eastbourne Road in Pevensey Bay, next to the corner location occupied by the Chardwood Rest Home.—Bay Life, 16 May 2017
A plume of smoke was seen hanging in the air from as far away as St Wilfrid’s Hall in Pevensey Bay, at 3:30pm, with the distinct smell of burning that seemed to be partly rubber.
A fire engine flew along the Eastbourne Road from Pevensey Bay at approximately 3:35pm as the fire services attended the scene.
Fierce flames could be seen coming from both beneath the camper van and the roof with the whole van alight. It took something like five minutes for the fire service to fully put the fire out. A small gas canister could be seen being carefully removed from the van and hosed down by the side of the scene.
An ambulance and police car were also in attendance as bystanders approached the scene.
To the side of the camper van a couple could be seen talking to the fire service. Another police car arrived at the scene at about 4:00pm.
Bystanders said that a few minutes earlier in the afternoon, a couple could be seen ‘fiddling underneath the camper van’ further along the Eastbourne Road, in the slip road that runs parallel to the main road.
The scene resulted in both lanes of traffic being stopped for a short time as the fire services and ambulance attended the scene. A couple could be seen continuing to talk to the police close to the scene some time after 4:00pm as well.
The burnt out shell of the camper van was left at the scene of the incident. The entire top of the van had been burnt out as a result of the fire, together with the undercarriage of the van.
The facia of the van appeared somewhat unaffected as the pale blue shape still stood out, leaving a somewhat eery result, with the burnout shell of the camper van left behind.
IMAGE CREDIT: Dave Kember
