5 December 2008

Firefighters have prevented a thatch fire from destroying a roof and spreading to a neighbouring property. 

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service received a 999 call to a semi-detached cottage in Nash Road, Whaddon, at 8.05am.

Assistant Chief Officer Bryan Dugdale, who attended the incident, said: "When the crews arrived, smoke was issuing from the roof. They took prompt action and created a fire-break by removing some of the thatch.

"This prevented the incident from escalating and was an exemplary operation."

At its peak, there were 40 firefighters and officers, mainly from Buckingham, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury, at the incident. The damage was restricted to about 10 per cent of the roof.

The British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Service vehicle - a customised camper van which helps look after occupants during fires and other emergencies - also attended. It is based at Bletchley Fire Station.

Following the incident, Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service has renewed its offer of free safety checks and special leaflets to people who live in thatched properties.

ACO Dugdale said: "Thatch is highly susceptible to damage by fire – and once started, a thatch fire is extremely difficult to stop because thatch is designed to repel water.

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

“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."

Ring 01296 744477 or send an email to cs@bucksfire.gov.uk to request your free safety check and leaflet.

Fire safety advice - 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.