12 August 2008

Hundreds of thatched property owners and occupiers in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes are being contacted so that Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service can help them minimise the risk of suffering a fire.

As well as offering free fire safety checks, the organisation is asking residents to pay special attention to the condition of their chimneys.

There have been 45 fires involving thatched properties in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes over the past six years, of which more than half have involved the chimney. Last year, two firefighters were injured during a thatched roof fire when a chimney collapsed without warning.

Firefighter Libby Boyden, who has sent out around 800 letters, said: “These figures highlight the importance of keeping your chimneys serviced and swept regularly to minimise the risk of fire and damage to your property.

“Working chimneys should be swept at least once a year, and the chimney should be inspected to make sure the flue lining is suitable for solid fuel fires.

“Thatch is a beautiful and traditional roofing material, an important part of our cultural heritage and an essential feature of the local landscape.

“Unfortunately it is also highly susceptible to damage by fire – and once started, a thatch fire is extremely difficult to stop because thatch is designed to repel water.

“We want everyone who lives in a thatched home to have the opportunity to receive a free fire safety check and a free leaflet full of helpful fire safety advice.”

The number to ring is 01296 744477 and the email address is cs@bucksfire.gov.uk

Libby added: “Apart from the obvious danger to life posed by any fire, the damage alone is often heartbreaking for the owner.

“You can minimise the risk and help protect your home by taking a few simple precautions.”

Libby offered the following safety advice to people who live in thatched properties:

• Most thatch fires start near the chimney. Have your chimney swept regularly – twice a year if you burn wood – and have the brickwork and rendering checked by a professional builder. If in doubt, fit a steel liner.

• Ensure that the top of the chimney stack is at least 1.8 metres (about five feet) above the ridge. This will allow sparks to die away before they drop on to the thatch.

• Spark arresters can help prevent fires, but they must be kept clean.

• Don’t burn wet or unseasoned wood as this will lead to a greater build-up of deposits in the flue.

• All electrical work should be carried out by a competent professional. Wiring in the roof space should be checked regularly.

• Check the roof space for signs of vermin as these creatures may damage the wiring.

• Avoid bonfires – and make sure your neighbours are aware of the danger to your home from their bonfires. Be extra vigilant around bonfire night.

• It helps to have a standpipe, lagged against front, with a hose that can reach all round the house.

• Fit smoke detectors in the roof space – these should be linked so that a detector operating in the roof space will activate the other detectors in the building.

• If you have any painting or plumbing work done involving a blow torch, be sure the person doing it has a fire extinguisher to hand.

• If you have a fire, be sure to tell the operator that yours is a thatched property when you dial 999.