Royal Mail vans set alight in Shropshire arson attack

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014 ... on-attack/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Two Royal Mail vans were set alight in an arson attack outside a former police station in Shropshire.


The flames spread from wheelie bins deliberately set on fire in Station Road, Albrighton.

The blaze left one post van with 60 per cent damage and another with 10 per cent.

The flames spread after 10.30pm yesterday and took two fire crews an hour to bring under control.

The old police station window was damaged in by the blaze and smoke filled the ground floor.

Two fire engines from Albrighton went to the scene where crews discovered a large wheelie bin fire which had spread to two vans.

Fire fighters used breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets used to put out the flames by 11.30pm.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said the cause was deliberate ignition and was being treated as arson.

Shifnal & Albrighton police tweeted:

Shifnal & Albrighton @ShifnalCops
Were you in Station Road #Albrighton at 11pm last night? Two Royal Mail vans set alight & damage to the ex Police office. Please call 101
8:07 AM - 28 Aug 2014

[bustedflush]

These 2 vans wouldn't both be of the model that trills "Please remember to apply the handbrake before leaving the vehicle" every 10 seconds by any chance?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Mail vans hit in Shropshire arson blast

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014 ... son-blast/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Arsonists caused an explosion which engulfed two Royal Mail vans and blew out the window of an old police station.

van toast.PNG

A loud bang was heard after fire-starters pushed a wheelie bin up against a post van and set it alight in Station Road, Albrighton.

One van erupted into a ball of flames which quickly moved to the second Fiat van before spreading to the disused police station.

The glass pane was blown out, the UPVC frames melted and the ground floor of the office filled with smoke.

On hearing the explosion, residents raised the alarm and firefighters battled for an hour to get the flames under control.

The blaze left one post van with 60 per cent damage including broken windows and burst tyres and the other with 10 per cent damage.

Two fire engines from Albrighton went to the scene and crews battled for an hour using breathing apparatus and two hose reel jets.

Carol Sokolov, line manager at the post office, said: “There was an explosion, a big bang and they looked out and saw the fire brigade there. When I got here one of the Royal Mail vans was destroyed and there was a wheelie bin in front of it.

“There was quite an inferno. All the windows were blown out on one of the vans and the tyres had burst.

“The police station, which isn’t manned any more, had its window blown out and it’s burnt all up the wall.

“The police and fire brigade were quick to get here and get it under control. They’ve said it’s deliberate and I just think it’s childish and pathetic.I don’t think it’s the only one in the village either. When I was on my rounds in Elm Road about three weeks ago I notice a car had been burnt out.

“The whole engine and front of the car had gone up.” Mrs Sokolov said staff at the post office were pushing on to get mail out despite the fire.

“We are still in business,” she said. “We’ve had two replacement vans delivered so we are carrying on working.

“We’ve had Royal Mail head office down to investigate and get everything cleared up and sorted out. And we’ve had forensics taking photos.” Constable Nick Allbutt, of West Mercia Police, said:

“Someone had pushed a wheelie bin up against the two Fiat Royal Mail vans and then set the wheelie bin alight.

“The flames have then spread to both vans and the old police office window.

“It’s a 5ft by 3ft window and there’s damage to the glass, the UPVC frame and guttering on the wall of the building.”

Derek Taylor, fire crime officer for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “At 10.25pm on Wednesday we were called to a large wheelie bin fire at the rear of the post office in Station Road, Albrighton.

“The fire caused damage to two post office vehicles and caused damage to the old police station window. The fire was started deliberately.”

Anyone with any information on the fire is asked to contact West Mercia Police on 101 or CrimeStoppers on 0800 555111.

[Lounge Lizard]

That's what can happen with SPDO vans not parked overnight in a secure yard.

[fishtank]

I wonder if that's cleared the Diesel Particulate Filter....