Fire which destroyed caravan and killed 11 guinea pigs being treated as arson

Police are treating a fire on a Bury St Edmunds estate which destroyed a caravan and killed 11 guinea pigs as arson.

A caravan, in Baldwin Avenue on the Mildenhall Road estate, caught fire in the early hours of yesterday morning and spread and damaged two houses and four vehicles.

Yesterday mum of three Laura Lambell told the Bury Free Press how she and her partner Andrew were alerted to the fire at their next door neighbours when some residents knocked on their door.

Eleven of Mrs Lambell’s guinea pigs died but one survived.

Two crews from Bury St Edmunds were initially called to the incident at 2.50am to reports of a caravan on fire.

On arrival the first crew immediately requested the assistance of a further three fire engines as the blaze was affecting two properties and cars.

Further crews were sent from Wickhambrook, Ixworth and Elmswell and they brought the incident under control by 4.16am using four sets of breathing apparatus and two hose reels.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “An ambulance crew and ambulance officer attended who assessed one patient who did not require treatment or transport to hospital.”

Anyone with information about this incident should contact DC Thomas Darville of the western area CID on 101 quoting reference 15017/15, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.