Thatched cottage fire in Thrupp, near Kidlington

 

Another sad fire to report I’m afraid.  It was reported yesterday in the oxford mail that…… “EIGHT fire engines are currently dealing with a blaze in a thatched cottage in Canal Road, Thrupp, near Kidlington.

The fire broke out in the roof of the cottage located in a row of homes at about 6pm.

Firefighters have prevented the blaze from spreading to the neighbouring properties.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue group manager Gary Cooper confirmed at 9.30pm crews WERE still using hoses to dampen the thatch and were in the process of salvaging property from the cottage.”

 Thank goodness it was prevented from spreading, but sadly the cottage itself was pretty much destroyed.  This follows another Oxfordshire thatch fire on Jan 15^th at Roke Marsh near Wallingford. In that one, ‘gas canisters’ were mentioned, but no further information released.

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Link to the North Norfolk Reed Cutters Association

And this is where it all comes from – well, much of it anyway.

Reed cutting has been a way of life for generations of people in Norfolk.  The reed grow without the need for additional fertiliser or pesticide and the beds themselves also create an important habitat for wildlife.  Add to that the fact that this particular land is really no good for anything else and you can see that your thatched roof is providing so many things including work, natural habitat and valuable land usage.

Quite amazing that on a roof, Norfolk reed can last up to 70 years!  Not great news for thatchers I guess with only one visit per generation!!

Anyway, an interesting site and well worth a visit.

“This is the website for the North Norfolk Reed Cutters Association, the organisation that represents the cutters that manage the reed beds of the North Norfolk Coast and the Broads Reed and Sedge Cutters Association which represents cutters working in the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.”

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Thatched house in the sand dunes in Denmark

Now this is a beautiful sight

No, that isn’t snow, it is sand.  I found this picture on the http://www.sellahouseonline.co.uk/ site – and thought I’d best share it!  What a place for a holiday – in Denmark.  If I findout how you can rent it, I will let you know.  

       

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Fire Safety for Thatch from the Thatch Advice Centre

The Thatch Advice Centre has published a leaflet outlining many of the steps which you can take to make your home safer.  Of course it is all quite obvious stuff about electrical safety, chimney sweeping, smoking, kitchen safety etc.  HOWEVER, IT IS STILL WORTH A READ!  We all need reminding of the obvious from time to time!

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Thatch Advice Centre Website

The Thatch Advice Centre is launching a new website and directory.  This website is a free resource for anyone who owns or maintains a thatched property.

TAC is run by Master Thatchers and thatched home owners and aims to give out the benefit of many years of experience.  The aim of their directory is to offer relevant, useful and up to date information about suppliers of relevant services so that customers can make informed decision about whatever they are doing or planning with their thatched property.

There is information on types of thatch, materials, care programmes, fire safety etc – everything you could hope to know.

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Get a quote: http://www.exportandgeneral.co.uk/thatched-property-insurance.php

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Thatch fire breaks out in Dorset

A vigilant neighbour raised the alarm when smoke was spotted coming from a thatched property in a Dorset village.

The fire broke out around 1.30pm this afternoon in Fontmell Magna.

Crews from Shaftesbury, Sturminster Newton and Blandford fire stations attended the blaze.

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