Three girls lucky to escape from blazing caravan in Aylesham
The gutted caravan three
girls escaped from in Aylesham
by Jamie Bullen
Three girls are lucky to be alive after escaping a burning
caravan when a blaze broke while they
were asleep early today.
Bonnie Woodcock, 15, her sister Terri-Ann, 12, and 11-year-old
Sarah Lane were at their home in Snowdown caravan park,
Aylesham, near Canterbury, when a heater set alight to a
duvet.
Fire crews were called at 5.30am to douse the flames, with
firefighters preventing the blaze from spreading to the girls'
parents home.
The girls escaped unhurt after Terri-Ann, who was woken by smoke
seeping through the caravan, grabbed Sarah before leaving.
After frantic efforts to wake up her sister, Bonnie also managed
to evade the burning caravan before it was gutted by flames.
Both firefighters and relatives said they were "extremely lucky"
to have survived the blaze - and warned about leaving combustible
materials near convector heaters. 
Sarah Lane, left, and
Bonnie Woodcock escaped a caravan blaze in Aylesham
Bonnie and Terri-Ann's mum Debra Barber, 42, said: "I'm still
feeling sick with worry about it now. I'm just so thankful that
they are safe.
"They have lost a lot of clothes and Christmas presents, but
they can be replaced unlike them.
"My first thought was I just wanted to get the kids out. If it
wasn't for Terri-Ann then they wouldn't be here today."
Her partner William Lane, 61, attempted to fight the flames
himself in a desperate attempt to save his granddaughter Sarah and
Debra's two daughters.
"I tried to fight the fire myself, but I had no chance. They are very lucky to be here today...” – William Lane
He said: "I tried to fight the fire myself, but I had no chance.
They are very lucky to be here today.
"I heard the fire alarm go and I jumped out of bed. I just
wanted to get them out safely.
"They will be staying with us temporarily until another one is
built."
Canterbury fire station crew manager Mike Godden said the
caravan was already destroyed when they reached the caravan park to
help Aylesham firefighters.
He said: "The duvet was set alight and all four children managed
to escape unhurt. The caravan was destroyed.
"There was a serious risk of four fatalities had the children
not woken up or were overcome by smoke. They were extremely
lucky."
Fire crews remained at the scene for an hour as the girls were
moved to their parents' caravan.
11/01/13
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