The importance of fire safety among caravan owners has been underlined by a tragic accident in Pateley Bridge near Harrogate.
A 66-year-old man died after falling asleep with a lit cigarette, which proceeded to burn down his mobile home, the Harrogate Advertiser reported.
Leslie Watson is believed to have died from smoke inhalation before local resident Charles Swires discovered the blaze after a phone call from a neighbour alerted him to it.
Mr Watson is believed to have smoked up to 40 cigarettes a day and investigating fire officer Roy Ashman told the newspaper that caravanners should be especially careful of smoking in their mobile homes.
“If a cigarette drops on the right sort of material it will either ignite straight away or, if it drops on resplendent material like bedding, it can incubate for a period of time undetected by the person,” he said.
Mr Ashman added that caravans are particularly susceptible to ignition due to the material they are made from.
Meanwhile, an Aberdeenshire caravan site owner is to take legal action after a water main caused a reported £200,000 worth of damage to his property, the Press & Journal has revealed.
