The garage next to the thatched house following this morning's fire in Haddenham. Click here for a picture showing how close it is to the house.

4 June 2008

Haddenham's recently strengthened pool of firefighters, quick-thinking control room staff and two crews from Aylesbury helped save the day this morning when a garage next to a thatched house caught fire.

The first of a number of calls to the fire in Rudds Lane, Haddenham, came at 10.51am. At its peak, flames reached an estimated height of 20 feet.

The first appliance to arrive was from Haddenham Fire Station, which has recently recruited and trained three new firefighters. Instead of sending one additional appliance from Aylesbury Fire Station, control room staff mobilised two because of the risk of the fire spreading to the thatch.

Group Manager Greg Smith, who also attended the incident, said: "Thatch fires can cause extensive damage and take a considerable amount of time to extinguish. Thanks to the speed and weight of the response, and the excellent work by all three crews, the damage was restricted to the garage.

"As a result of the support for our recent recruitment campaign by the community of Haddenham, the village's fire appliance is now much more readily available to respond to emergency incidents in the area. This incident shows what a big difference its increased availability can make."

Firefighters put out the fire using two hose reels and a jet.