A van has been destroyed in suspicious circumstances as a result of an early hours blaze in Sandown this morning (Sunday).
At just before 01:00, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service mobilised to St John’s Road, at the junction with Leed Street, to reports of a vehicle ablaze.
Firefighters arrived on scene to find flames had already engulfed the van and heavy smoke was billowing throughout the town.
The Ford Transit tipper truck van with a caged rear – used for rubbish collection – is said to have been full of old mattresses.
It had been parked in the same spot for around 3 weeks.
Fire crews from 2 stations used breathing apparatus and hose reels to extinguish the fire, with Police called in given the suspicious nature of the incident.
Hampshire Constabulary has confirmed that the fire is being treated as arson.
The van has since been recovered.
These rubbish wagons parked around the streets are an eyesore, especially when they are parked up full of rubbish. Perhaps a resident got fed up of looking at it and all the old mattresses in the back!
Agreed ! Should have been dealt with after a few day days by the council / by-law officer. No wonder people get frustrated by this nonsense.
I was behind this vehicle about a month ago.Was not road worthy as the back end was dragging to the left and the driver was steering to the left to keep in in a straight line.Bits hanging of the bottom of the van.Only seen once before. Any clues what causes that?We all know what really happened here.Insurance springs to my mind..
Nothing stopping you contacting the police, or are you one of these wingers that spends all day complaining and doing nothing.
There probably to busy on call outs for you.Saying there is an alien sat on your roof.Sad muppet. .
3 weeks? That was generous, our local fire fanatics usually move a bit quicker than that!
They were busy setting fires elsewhere, hotels, the beach, woodland etc…
I think all commercial vehicles should be banned from parking on the roads overnight. Companies that have commercial vehicles should have a yard for them to park overnight. Stop letting employee’s use the vehicle for their own wants… many park blocking the view of oncoming traffic. Many also park up on the pavement..
Agree with you 100% many of them take up two parking spaces
Trouble is fires like this will happen all the time now people know they can get away with it time for the police to step up
There is one of these parked in carter avene in shanklin been there since January full of the same stuff black bags and rubbish it’s not taxed or noted or insured it’s been reported to the police and island roads but it’s still there full of stinking crap
hmmmm…well an idea crosses my mind on that one!
Bet if you get your hose pipe out the police will turn up !
I love the photo of the empty parking space!
Such a waste of money and resources when these abandoned are set on fire, far cheaper to sort and remove and less dangerous to public etc Alot of angry people woken up last night
Good luck getting the idiot IWC to remove abandoned cars. You ever tried it? Have to wait months to send a letter, months to send a second, months to then get IslandRoads to arrange to pick it up. Absolutely pathetic council process. Far easier to set fire to it.
I got an abandoned vehicle removed a while ago by just telling Island Roads… must be Corona/Monkey Pox/lack of staff/inflation/fuel prices…delete as necessary.. stopping them attending these days.
You forgot Brexit. That was the issue.
gosh darn it!! I also forgot WWII, my memory eh?
Arson? Every suspicious fire starts as arson, then the lack high quality policing means arson is quickly dropped. Our police force is a disgrace, especially as we pay more for them year on year
I bet if your house is burgled the first thing you do is phone the police asking for help.
When the police do nothing people resort of this. When these vans are not left abandoned on the roads they are fly tipping on private land. I know, I have had to clean up their mess a few times now.
‘The can has since been recovered.’
What’s the point? It’s burnt out!
It can’t be arson, we don’t have arson on the island. Please try and remember that. Yes that was sarcasm.