AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into the cause of a fire which spread from a caravan to a house in Barton yesterday.

Residents were woken by an explosion which rocked Bernwood Road at around 6.50am.

Five fire engines rushed to the scene and it took 24 firefighters around an hour-and-a half to get the blaze under control.

Nine people, including six children, escaped the fire. Three adults were taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, one with serious burns. The blaze had spread from a caravan to the house itself but the cause of the fire is still unknown.

Burchester Avenue resident Neil French said: “I was asleep and I heard a bang.

“I went into the back garden and saw a lot of smoke and flames, and then the fire engines came about 10 minutes later.”

Bob Cooper, who also lives in Burchester Avenue, said: “I only moved in last week. I was up early and I saw black smoke coming from the caravan. I thought this isn’t a normal bonfire and it became worse and worse.

“Within minutes the whole thing was up in flames. I was surprised just how quickly it happened.”

Another resident, who lives a few streets, away said she could see the smoke above her house.

Mr Cooper said he saw the family leave the house from the rear and make their way out over a garden fence.

Six of them were children. Paramedics said they took the three adults – a man in his 30s, a 27-year-old woman and another adult female – to the John Radcliffe.

Their condition was last night unknown, but they were said to be suffering from smoke inhalation.

The 27-year-old woman also had burns which South Central Ambulance Service confirmed were serious.

She was transferred to a specialist burns unit in London yesterday afternoon.

The fire service left the scene at around 9.30am but Bernwood Road was cordoned off for most of the morning while the investigation was carried out.

A spokesman for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said the investigation may continue until tomorrow.

Anyone with any information can contact the police on 101.