Flaming Waynes goes up in smoke

Now catering boss Wayne Barker has thanked the Focus shop workers and the fire brigade who saved his van from serious damage.

The fire broke out when the van was parked in the car park of Focus DIY off Hambleton Avenue, Devizes.

Firefighters say that, without the actions of the members of the public, the van would have burnt down.

Mr Barker was working at his other burger van in Corsham when the fire broke out on Monday afternoon.

A female employee attempted to put the fire out using an extinguisher containing powder and staff from Focus and a woman shopper came to her aid.

Focus sales floor manager Kevin Cockwill used four foam extinguishers to help contain the blaze until the fire brigade arrived.

Three other Focus employees, store manager Paul Grigg, customer service manager John Dunford and Alex Bradbury, controlled the area around the burger van.

They got customers who were parked nearby to move their cars.

Mr Grigg said: "The van was on fire and there were flames licking up to the ceiling."

Two fire engines from Devizes Fire Station arrived and put the fire out within five minutes.

Pip Flowers, commander of Devizes Fire Station, said: "The fire was pretty much under control when we got there, thanks to the efforts of the Focus staff and the burger van employee.

"If they hadn't used extinguishers we would have ended up with a burnt out trailer.

"The fire started in the chip fryer after the appliance had been switched off so we are putting it down to a faulty appliance."

Mr Barker, who works on the van with two other staff, said: "Everyone involved did a great job.

"I'd like to thank everyone who helped.

"I'm just glad that no one was injured."

Mr Barker, 22, appealed to the woman shopper to contact him as he would personally like to thank her.

The van suffered little damage and, after being cleaned, was back open yesterday.

But chips will be off the menu for a couple of weeks until Mr Barker gets a new fryer.