A bit of a round-up of thatch fires this year:
Rougham: Crews attend fire at thatched property
Thursday, February 9, 2012
FIRE crews have been called out to a chimney fire at a thatched property.
Two fire engines and a turntable ladder from Bury St Edmunds and a fire engine from Elsmwell attended Nether Street in Rougham after they were alerted at 5.46pm.
On arrival crews found that the thatch was not involved in the fire.
It was brought under control at 6.33pm and crews were back at their station by 7.43pm.
Fire victim thanks fire crews and partygoers for support
Thursday, February 09, 2012
A WOMAN whose thatched cottage caught alight has praised firefighters and her stoic neighbours for their help in her hour of need. Carol Barkwell 52, and her husband Rob, 50, are picking up the pieces after their home, West Fishleigh Farm, near Hatherleigh, caught alight on Saturday at around 2.30pm.
Half of the thatch was destroyed in the fire, but Mrs Barkwell said the damage would have been far worse had it not been for the quick-thinking firefighters, who managed to remove a lot of the thatch and put a fire break up so quickly.
The businesswoman said the only room which was badly damaged by the fire was their lounge, and the firefighters managed to rescue a number of antique and valuable paintings from inside the detached property. No one was hurt during the blaze which started at around 2.30pm, and was out by 7.20pm.
Commander Pete Bond and Martin Davies from Barnstaple oversaw the incident, which involved 13 fire appliances and more than 80 firefighters.
Mrs Barkwell said: "The firefighters were absolutely fantastic, they were here within minutes and made a fire break. "They managed to save all our pictures and personal belongings, I kept saying, 'oh no what about that picture of Granny', and they'd go straight back in and rescue it for me."
"They were absolutely marvellous. I've never been involved in a fire before and they really did work like Trojans. They just kept carrying stuff out, they got everything out I wanted, they were wonderful."
She added: "They were there for hours, they didn't leave until nearly 8.30pm." In praise of her neighbours at the Made Well project, which was hosting six-year-old Cameron Kellaway's birthday party at the time, Mrs Barkwell said: "I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who was at the Made Well. "They were just stoic, they kept appearing with home-made cakes and tea for the firemen. Then this morning (Sunday) they turned up with eggs, bacon and sausages. "There were about 20 of them on site helping to clean everything up. They have been fantastic, the community spirit is wonderful — this is what living in the country is all about, you wouldn't have this in other parts of the country."
Cameron's mum, Claire Kellaway, 34, said her son's birthday quickly turned into a major incident after her husband Andy, 50, spotted the thatch was alight. He called the fire service and ran into the house to put out the fire inside the property. Claire said: "It was the first birthday party they had held at the Made Well. We were the guinea pigs, we booked it last year not knowing the entertainment would be so dramatic. "We ended up making around 100 cups of tea because there were more than 80 firemen there. "My son thought it was wonderful. It's not often you get 13 fire engines turn up at your birthday party, and afterwards they all came in and sang happy birthday to him and let him wear a fireman's hat for a photo."
Mrs Barkwell, who has lived at the home for nine years with her husband and three dogs, added it was money well spent getting the thatch fitted using modern techniques, which incorporates aluminium to stop fire spreading.
Firefighters from Hatherleigh, Okehampton, North Tawton, Torrington, Chulmleigh, Holsworthy, Bideford, Barnstaple, Exeter, Tavistock and Ilfracombe were all at the scene on the Saturday. The couple are unsure of what exactly started the fire, and said investigations were ongoing.
Chimney fire at Exbourne thatched cottage
Wednesday, February 08, 2012, 11:25
Local fire crews were again called to a fire at a thatched cottage - the fourth local thatch blaze in less than a week - this time in Exbourne. On this occasion a chimney on fire caused the emergency with fire appliances from North Tawton and Hatherleigh attending the scene. On arrival the fire service confirmed there was indeed a chimney fire which involved a wood burning stove and the main beam in the fireplace. Fire crews requested the incident support unit from Crediton and an appliance from Okehampton also attend with specialist equipment.
Fire crews extinguished a small fire in a ground floor living room involving a wooden beam in a chimney breast and later removed the beam using small tools, chimney gear, a ladder for access and a thermal image camera to check for hot spots.
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.
Historic inn ready to reopen doors after blaze
Monday, February 06, 2012
One of Cornwall's most famous waterside pubs is to reopen its doors just under a year after fire ripped through the 13th century inn. The historic and much-loved Pandora Inn at Restronguet, near Falmouth, will be back in business on March 9 after a programme of restoration which included thatching the roof.
Fourteen fire crews fight Hatherleigh thatch fire - update
Saturday, February 04, 2012, 16:41
Fire appliances from Hatherleigh, Okehampton (2), North Tawton, Torrington (with a compressed air foam system), Chulmleigh, Holsworthy and Bideford attended the scene, together with a water foam carrier from Barnstaple, the aerial ladder platform from Danes Castle Exeter, the hose layer from Tavistock and the incident command unit with a supporting appliance from Ilfracombe. Western Power were also requested to attend this incident to isolate the power supply to the property.
The Fire Service take up the story...
Upon arrival, fire crews confirmed the thatch roof of a property well alight around the chimney and were at work with two breathing apparatus wearers and two hose reel jets.
Update at 14:47 hrs - Fire crews requested a further two fire appliances from Appledore and Bideford, together with a compressed air foam systems appliance and a second water bowser from Danes Castle Exeter.
Update at 14:51 hrs - Police have been requested to attend to urgently close the road at this incident.
Update at 15:03 hrs - Fire crews confirm one single storey detached private property with a thatched roof, measuring twenty four metres by ten metres, with a mezzanine floor. Approximately twenty five percent of the roof is well alight and fire crews are making efforts to make fire breaks in the thatch to prevent further fire spread. Fire crews are at work with one main jet from a street hydrant, two hose reel jets and two breathing apparatus wearers.
Update at 15:12 hrs - The number of breathing apparatus wearers has increased to four. Fire crews are making efforts to remove contents from the property.
Update at 15:23 hrs - The British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Services team have been requested to attend this incident from Plymouth.
Update at 15:25 hrs - Group Commander Bond is now in charge of this incident.
Update at 15:38 hrs - Fire crews are making steady progress creating fire breaks and continuing with salvage operations.
Update at 16:06 hrs - Fire crews are at work with five hose reel jets, one main compressed air foam systems jet and four breathing apparatus wearers. Ladders are also being utilised for access.
Update at 17:48 hrs - Fire crews continuing to make steady progress with one hose reel jet, breathing apparatus has now been discontinued. The incident will be scaled down shortly.
Fire under Control message timed at 18:35 - Domestic residence 25m x 15m, 50 per cent of thatched roof saved by crews making fire breaks, water damage to property, majority of antique and valuable paintings saved and removed from the property by fire crews. Equipment used includes ladders,aerial ladder platform, six breathing apparatus wearers at a time, compressed air foam jets, five hose reels, crews continuing to dig out. Incident scaled down to 3 crews.
All firefighting has now ceased 19:21 and crews leaving the scene
Twenty fire crews fight Crediton thatch fire - update
Thursday, February 02, 2012, 16:0
Twenty fire appliances were called to Buller Square, Mill Road, Crediton just after 12.30 today (Thurs) when five thatched properties in this historical part of the town were reported to be on fire. With the roof well alight on two sides, fire crews used compressed air foam jets, water jets, hose reel jets and breathing apparatus as they attempted to control the blaze.
Fire appliances from Crediton, Danes Castle (Exeter), Middlemoor (Exeter), North Tawton, Witheridge, Tiverton, Topsham, Moretonhampstead, Cullompton, Chumleigh, Sidmouth, Honiton, and South Molton are at the scene. Staff working at a nearby pub described seeing "a large plume of greyish brown smoke going high in the sky".
Thatched roof fire and overturned car in Stonham Aspal
Published on Monday 16 January 2012 10:08
A COTTAGE in Stonham Aspal was extensively damaged during a thatched roof fire yesterday. Firefighters from Debenham, Needham Market, Elmswell, Stowmarket Leiston, Woodbridge, Framlingham, Eye, Bury St Edmunds and two each from Ipswich Princes Street and Ipswich East attended the property in East End Road at about 10.15am.
They found 30 per cent of the roof was not involved in the fire, and were also able to salvage the contents of the ground floor inside the cottage. Two hours later, good progress was being made, and firefighters had been able to get inside onto the first floor. Before long, though, the first floor had become unstable. At about 12.55pm, a further water carrier from Sudbury was called for, as attempts to locate additional water were initially unsuccessful.
Eventually, the crews had to use water from a pond in front of a nearby cottage: this extra water proved vital in stopping the fire from reigniting the thatch. The fire was put out shortly before 2pm, although one crew was still on the scene at about 5.15pm, using a thermal imaging camera to check for hot spots.
The car had to be secured to a fire engine to prevent it from falling into a deeper ditch.
Police and Ambulance were called to the scene, with the crew from Elmswell remaining there to give assistance.
The fire broke out in the roof of the cottage
located in a row of homes at about 6pm.
Thatch fire in Bardwell 