Campervan Explosion Shakes Acomb Street
A man has recounted the moment a campervan exploded and caught fire in the street outside his home.
Bryar Kanq, 27, described how the blast in Beaconsfield Street, Acomb, shattered the window of the shop beneath his flat and left him feeling "shaken."
Another witness reported hearing a "huge boom" before emergency services arrived at the scene at approximately 23:20 BST.
Arrest Made on Suspicion of Arson
North Yorkshire Police confirmed that a 58-year-old local man was arrested on suspicion of arson in connection with the incident. The explosion caused damage to three vehicles and two buildings.
Kanq resides above Headline Barbers, located directly opposite where the campervan was parked.
Photos from the scene reveal that the sign above the shop was melted by the fire's heat, and shattered glass was scattered on the pavement outside.
"I saw the flames then after that there was a big explosion. I was quite shaken.
It was loud, a big fire. I couldn't get out of the front door, so I used the back door, moved my car and called 999."
Witness Accounts of the Incident
Lawa, 29, a friend of Kanq, said:
"He called me and I came, he was shaking. It's shattered his shop's front window."
On Friday morning, as a crowd gathered at the scene, Liam, 35, who lives ten doors down, said:
"I live ten doors down and it was really loud.
I'd just come in from playing sports and was getting washed and there was just a huge boom, it went over everything."
Police Response and Safety Measures
A police spokesperson stated:
"The white campervan was extensively damaged by the fire, and two cars parked nearby were partially melted.
Nearby homes had damaged windows, and a business premise sustained damage due to the blaze."
Several households were evacuated as a safety precaution, but residents were allowed to return to their homes around 23:40 BST.
The police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with relevant CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage to come forward to assist with the investigation.
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