A CARAVAN blaze in Baughurst left the vehicle destroyed and a man needing hospital treatment.

Fire crews were called to Fair Oak Way in Baughurst yesterday (July 4) at 3:20pm after receiving several calls about a large plume of black smoke.

Around 20 firefighters from stations in Basingstoke, Rushmoor, and Tadley attended the scene to find the fire had spread from the caravan to two houses. The firefighters used jets and hoses to put out the fire, finishing at around 5:30pm.

The fire also damaged three sheds, and there were four propane cylinders near to the caravan that were damaged.

A spokesman from South Central Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 16.03 yesterday reporting a male who had sustained burns to his forehead and was suffering from smoke inhalation.

"We sent two rapid response vehicles to the scene, one with a paramedic and one with a specialist paramedic. After initial treatment at the scene, the patient was then taken to North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke."

Grateful residents brought the firefighters a bag full of cold drinks to keep them cool, with Tadley Fire Station on Twitter (@Tadley12) tweeting: “As a final note to the earlier incident, a big thanks to neighbours who bought out a shopping bag full of cold drinks for the crews. Great to see that the community spirit hasn't been lost. #everyoneneedsacolddrink”