A MAN had a lucky escape when his static home went up “like a tinderbox” and was reduced to a charred wreck within minutes.

Residents rushed to the scene when Andrew Powell’s home on the outskirts of Hereford went up in flames on Monday.

One man fearing that Mr Powell might be at home ran towards the blaze but discovered that his neighbour had gone out.

“It went up like a tinderbox,” said Paddy Lane, who lives nearby.

Three fire engines attended the blaze and police officers were also called to the Green Lane Park Home Estate in Breinton.

Mr Lane said that firefighters arrived swiftly at the site.

“Fair do’s to them, they only took six minutes to get here,” he explained.

“The fire was still blazing when they got here.”

He was able to assure firefighters that Mr Powell, who lived alone, was not at home.

“Andy was devastated by the damage,” said Mr Lane.

“He’d only been here for 12 months and everything in his home was brand new.”

He understood that Mr Powell was staying with his son.

Green Lane Park is operated by Sovereign, a family run business based in Somerset.

Its website points out that its residential parks are “exclusively” for those age 50-plus and are situated all over the south-west in a variety of settings.

This is a quiet, rural spot where residents point out that they “look out for each other”.

Mr Powell’s two-bedroomed static home was rapidly reduced to a charred skeleton by the fire and his garage was also destroyed.

The intense heat caused damage to property on the other side of the road as well as blistering paintwork on a neighbouring home.

A photograph of the blaze, sent to the Hereford Times by reader Elaine Garrett, showed the ferocity of the fire and a huge pall of black smoke rising up over the park.

When the fire was brought under control, firefighters entered the building using breathing apparatus, Mr Lane explained.

The Hereford Times understands a number of Mr Powell’s neighbours have offered him clothing and household items after Monday’s fire.