A van has been destroyed and another badly damaged in a suspected arson attack in East Cowes this evening (Tuesday) – just metres away from where an almost identical incident happened earlier this month.
Firefighters from Newport and Ryde are on scene at York Avenue, where a Mercedes Sprinter van has gone up in flames and a Vauxhall Astra van has been severely damaged.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to a small fire underneath the van at shortly before 18:30. However, when the 1st appliance from Newport arrived on scene the fire had taken hold and was spreading – prompting a 2nd appliance from Ryde to be called for.
Island Echo can reveal that the incident is being treated as an act of arson – just like last week’s blaze which damaged a curtain side delivery van – with the suspected arsonist still at large.
It’s thought an accelerant may have been used, but investigations are still underway. The matter has been referred to the Police.
Witnesses say that a small fire was noted on the nearside (closest to the pavement), which matches reports from the fire on 10th December.
It was back in July that a fire also damaged a number of cars parked on a driveway in exactly the same location as these 2 latest fires.
Islandwide Carpets of Ryde have now been left without 1 of their delivery vans at a very busy time of the year.
York Avenue was closed for a time but has since reopened.
Fire crews are preparing to stand down from the incident having doused the flames and dampened down the charred wreckage.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY – Police have confirmed they are investigating the incident, exploring whether or not the 3 incidents of suspected arson are linked. Read more at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/no-arrests-yet-as-police-probe-whether-east-cowes-has-a-serial-arsonist-at-large/.
This island is becoming more like Beirut every day, we can’t assume the island is shealded from the rest of the sub human element that most British City’s experience every day…
Just imagine after this council has finished turning the island into a concrete jungle, what it will be like….
The top council workers wont even no as after they have rinsed us of every penny to add to the self award pay rises they will be off the island living life to the fullest on tax payers money
You obviously do not realise that it is only the executive that are paid big wages and there are only half a dozen of them.The councillors on the other hand at top most are allowed up to £ 8000 in expenses and that has to cover any childcare costs and travel and any other business they have to do re council.Ordinary people put themselves forward and are voted in at the County elections to serve the community only to be slated by those who havent a clue how much work is involved.Most of these people have full time jobs and familes.Those executive are not voted in they are government civil servants,agreed they earn far too much.The actual council staff are on a basic wage just like the rest of us.
In the same road? This is a person pissed off at commercial vehicles being parked on their street. If I was the police I’d start with the residents in top York avenue.
yep clearly someone that doesn’t like vehicles parking there – i would be looking at the properties that are the closest to the parking spaces – some do not like people parking outside their homes.
I understand residents don’t want commercial vehicles parked outside their homes, but there’s no excuse for this kind of behaviour….You never know what some of these vans are carrying, there could be dangerous chemicals in the back that could be very toxic, even explosive…
You don’t have to be Einstein to work this one out.
Parking dispute?
Parking disputes on the Island are common because
IW Council do not STOP people parking on pavements etc.
The island needs parking permits islandwide and CCTV installed down all roads.
I have experienced minor damage to my vehicle in the past parking along an
Island Road in Ryde, some people think they own the Road outside their house
THEY DON’T!
What on earth is wrong with these /this idiots / idiot ?????
Hope it /they get caught and have the book thrown at it / them ….
The people who have lost their vehicles now have to wait for insurance etc …
Feel for them all .
Why wait for an appliance to come from Newport when there is a fire station in York Avenue? Could some of the damage have been prevented by a more prompt response?
Because the York Ave station is fully retained. Retained firefighters have to be called out from their homes or regular places of work.
Newport is the only full time fully manned station on the Island. It is probable that an appliance from Newport can be on the scene before one has even left the station in E Cowes.
So – if the Newport station will always get to East Cowes first – why do we pay to maintain a station there?
The reason for East Cowes not getting called out could be down to sickness/holidays bring the station down below minimal numbers or they could just be on another shout. East Cowes are usually out of the doors within 5 minutes.
I was thinking the same thing as Grumpy grannie,why weren’t the local crew called
I bet someone has a camera pointing near to if not right at the scene. If I was investigating this, I’d ask media outlets to run a short announcement asking for anyone in that locality with camera footage to hand it in to police. Someone will have the perp on camera. Someone knows who this is, they need to be caught before someone is killed or injured. Do the right thing and let the police know.
Yes, i totally agree with you.
Police quote. “We ain’t got a clue m8, we’re too busy fighting speeding drivers and giving out parking fines. Anyway, wots it got to do with us? Probably domestic “
Isn’t CCTV a thing on the island?