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Accident or arson?

Nick Towle
9/11/2006

A NUMBER of homes in Didsbury had to be evacuated after two police vehicles were completely destroyed by fire.

The liveried vehicles - a Ford Transit van and a Fiesta - were found on fire in a car park behind Didsbury Police Station.

Up to a dozen homes on Davenfield Grove had to be evacuated as a precaution after the fire took hold in the police car park near their homes.

Nobody was hurt in the blaze and residents were allowed back in their homes shortly afterwards.

Police officers went to the scene and found the two vehicles ablaze. They were both completely destroyed and are currently waiting to be crushed at the Charles Wilson garage in Rusholme.

It is still unclear what caused the blaze but arsonists are strongly suspected of carrying out the attack in the early hours of Saturday, November 4.

Police say there is also a possibility the fire was sparked by an electrical fault on the Ford Transit.

Fire officers and forensic experts carried out an examination of the vehicles but couldn't come to any conclusions about how it was started. Investigations at the scene are ongoing.

The blaze happened just before 5am when the Transit van set on fire and the Ford Fiesta caught fire too. Another Ford Transit suffered minor heat damage.

Inspector Mike Dawson, head of Didsbury's area policing team, said: "It is still not clear what caused the blaze. It has been examined by the fire brigade and forensics and is still being investigated. We are now checking CCTV footage and changing our security arrangements. It won't happen again."

He added: "We apologise to residents in Davenfield Grove but unfortunately the fire was out of our control."

Anyone with information is asked to call 0161 856 4973 or the main police number on: 0161 872 5050.