Holiday couple die in Loch Lomond caravan park fire

TWO people died yesterday in a caravan fire close to the banks of Loch Lomond. The man and woman, who were believed to be a couple, lost their lives after their static mobile home caught fire early in the morning.

The man was 65 and the woman was 59. It is thought the caravan was their weekend holiday home at Lagganbeg Caravan Park, near Gartocharn. Police and fire sources said they did not believe the fire was suspicious.

Emergency services were called to the caravan park at 6.15am yesterday. It is understood neighbours sounded the alarm and made efforts to save the pair, but the fire had taken too strong a hold.

Part-time firefighters from nearby Balloch, in the Vale of Leven, arrived quickly and were soon followed by a full-time crew from Dumbarton. Firefighters had extinguished the fire by 7am.

Fire investigators were yesterday trying to find out the cause of the blaze. Men and women in white coveralls were seen carefully examining the burnt-out shell of the green metal caravan.

Strathclyde Police said the pair would only be named after relatives had been informed of their deaths. A spokeswoman could not confirm whether the two victims were related.

A spokesman for the fire service issued a safety warning to caravan owners following the blaze.

He said: "We would urge anyone who owns a caravan to check all gas appliances are switched off at night, and to make sure they have a working smoke detector in the caravan, as they would have in a house.

"Strathclyde Fire and Rescue wishes to extend its sympathies to the relatives of the people who died in the fire."

Lagganbeg is a small caravan and camping site near Gartocharn, Dunbartonshire. No-one at the site was yesterday available for comment.