‘Kids screaming’ as bonfire inferno sparks evacuation in Stoke

Families have been forced to evacuate a fireworks event after an out-of-control bonfire spread to a caravan.

Firefighters are currently at the scene at the Foxley Hotel in Milton, Stoke-on-Trent. 

A Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “We were called to the Foxley Hotel after in Milton at 7.45pm after a bonfire spread to a disused caravan.

“Crews from Hanley, Newcastle and Sandy ford attended. We are still at the scene but will be leaving shortly after the fire was brought under control. Thankfully there were no injuries.”

Describing the frightening scenes one mum said the gas canister went bang setting the caravan into a blaze causing scared children to scream.

She told StokeonTrentLive: “They set the bonfire and doused it in petrol but the bonfire was set right next to a caravan and a gas canister. The gas canister went bang and the caravan set on fire.

“They tried to put it out with an extinguisher but it didn’t work. It was raging. They evacuated everyone. Children were screaming at children. It was awful.”

In a statement on social media the Foxley Hotel said: “Just to confirm, everybody is safe and sound. Our bonfire unfortunately spread to an empty caravan that was parked on our field.

“The fire has thankfully been put out. Apologies to anybody that came to watch the bonfire. Luckily the firework display had finished Thank-you to the fire brigade that came to the rescue.”

The hotel jokingly added: “where else can you go for 3 quid and have this sort of drama?”