Chimney Fire Safety Week

To anticipate the spectre of thatched property fires ahead of winter, Chimney Fire Safety Week began yesterday.

The brainchild of the Chief Fire Officers Association, the initiative coincides with the onset of what is expected to be a frigid end of the year, when people begin to use stoves and fires again.

Although it targets the owners of all types of properties, thatched properties are of primary concern.

Final straw

The campaign addresses a burgeoning anxiety in the thatched roof community about the safety of their homes. Home owners are right to be concerned: two thatched properties a week burn down across Britain.

The Island Echo reports that 90% of fires in thatched houses are caused by chimney and flue faults. Mark Abram of the Chief Fire Officers Association counted the burning of unsuitable wood and use of incorrectly sized appliances as other possible flashpoints.

Abram recommends that property owners utilise that humble British institution - the chimney sweep - as a preventative measure.

From one group of thatch enthusiasts to another, E&G wishes the thatched property community a safe autumn and winter.

• For an insurance quote on your thatched property, click here. 

• For a list of safety tips for thatched properties, click here. 

Thatched cottage gutted by fire in Mareham on the Hill

Sadly, another one! 

Nine fire crews attended a thatched house fire in Main Road, Mareham on the Hill, near Horncastle last night.

Four hose reel jets, two cobra and breathing appliances were used to extinguish the blaze.

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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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Call me to discuss your insurance needs on 0208 2550617 / 07768 865983

Email john.mitchell@exportandgeneral.co.uk

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.

Read more….

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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.

Read more....

MAN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FROM NORTH CUMBRIA HOUSE FIRE

The casualty was overcome by smoke as he attempted to put out the blaze with a garden hose.

More than 30 firefighters were dispatched to the incident at its height with crews spending several hours putting out the fire at Green Lane, on the outskirts of Dalston.

It is believed builders were working on the property before the fire broke out, at about 10.30am.

The owner of the cottage escaped unhurt but a worker was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle, though he was not thought to have been seriously injured.

An eyewitness, who was diverting traffic away from the scene, said: “We were all trying to fight the fire in the thatch but were overcome by smoke.”

Click no the picture below for more...........

Crews battle thatch cottage fire

FIREFIGHTERS worked to prevent a thatch roof blaze from spreading after it flared up.

Part of the roof of the cottage in Winterborne Whitechurch was destroyed but Dorset Fire and Rescue Service said it could have been much worse as the fire could have spread to neighbouring properties.

Prompt reporting of the fire and effective work by crews at the scene prevented further damage.

Fifty firefighters in eight engines from across Dorset were involved in the incident which was reported to the brigade at 5.40pm this evening.

The occupier and a neighbour tried to extinguish the fire themselves with a hosepipe before crews arrived.

Firefighters were alerted to Rose Cottages in Lower Street where the thatch around the chimney of one of the properties was alight. Fire engines blocked the small lane which runs from Winterborne Whitechurch towards Winterborne Kingston and the A31.

read more here

Devastation of the house gutted by thatch fire

More than 90 firefighters tackled the blaze at the property in North Weirs, Brockenhurst, throughout the night.

The property belongs to Nic Cicutti and his wife Tina Campbell, who were inside their beloved home when the fire took hold.

They managed to safely escape with their Jack Russell dog Pickles.

Firefighters battled through the night to save the home but were forced to remove the thatched roof.

The top floor has been left decimated by the blaze, leaving it unrecognisable to its owners.

The charred remains of beds and clothes lie where bedrooms once were, and blackened toiletries and a shower cubicle still stand on the bathroom.

Buckets are scattered around the kitchen to catch leaking water through the ceiling as fire crews used tones to extinguish the blaze.

read more here

Thatch fire during Saturday's FBU strike

A thatched property in Fyfield, near Pewsey has been significantly damaged by fire.

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service was called to the house at 5.45pm yesterday evening and eight fire engines were sent from around the county.

Unfortunately, there was a very strong wind at the time of the fire, and this caused the flames to spread rapidly throughout the roof and first floor.

Area Manager Julian Parsons said: “Thatch fires are notoriously difficult to deal with and, if the fire has spread throughout the roof before the firefighting operations begins, there is little we can do to save the property. The strong winds on Saturday night fanned the flames to the extent that the damage was beyond control very quickly.”

more information on this blog post here

Firefighters tackle cottage blaze near Watlington

Eight firefighters helped fight a serious house blaze that could have spread to neighboring houses if it had been left for a few more minutes.

The fire took place at a thatched cottage in Cuxham village, near Watlington at around 6.10pm yesterday.

Smoke was coming from the living room area on the ground floor and eight firefighters were needed to extinguish the serious blaze to stop it spreading to the thatched roof and houses next door.

Seven fire engines from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the house.

Station Manager Bob Speakman said, “This unfortunate incident could have been far worse had the fire taken hold of the thatched roof.

"As it was, the right resources were put in place and quick intervention by crews prevented the spread of fire from the living room area.

“I am convinced that given only a few more minutes left unchecked, the fire would have spread to the roof, causing extensive damage and the threat of spread to other surrounding thatched properties.”

Read the full story here