Firefighters are pictured above at the scene using the turntable ladder.

25 October 2008

More than 70 firefighters from three counties have been tackling a fire which has severely damaged Turweston Manor, a converted manor house near Brackley.

The six occupants were able to leave the three-storey building safely after being alerted by the recently-installed smoke alarm system in the early hours of the morning.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus had to lead a woman to safety after she went back into the burning building to look for a pet.

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service's Control Room received the 999 call at 1.39am. Appliances and crews from Buckingham, Winslow, Aylesbury, Bletchley, Great Holm, Waddesdon, Stokenchurch, Bicester, Brackley, Towcester and Moulton attended, along with a number of fire officers.

The fire is believed to have started in a flat on the second floor of the 30m by 20m building. The roof has been destroyed by the fire, and the first and second floors have been severely damaged.

Area Manager Denis O'Driscoll of Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service said: "It is quite clear that working smoke alarms played a significant part in preventing this from turning into an even more serious incident.

"They alerted occupants to a fire in the middle of the night and gave them enough time to leave the building without suffering any injuries.

"We were, however, very concerned when one of the people went back into the building. She put herself, and the firefighters who had to go in after her, into a position of potentially very serious risk.

"In the event of a fire, it is absolutely essential that you get out, stay out and call 999."

At its peak, there were 18 fire and rescue vehicles at the scene. They included nine fire engines, two turntable ladders, two water tankers and a hose-laying vehicle.

Mr O'Driscoll continued: "Firefighters from all three brigades worked extremely hard under very difficult conditions to try to stop the fire from spreading.

"They brought the fire under control using six main jets and an aerial monitor. Relief crews were brought in later in the morning and we will be here for some time yet."

An investigation is being held into the cause of the fire.

UPDATE, 27 October: The last relief crew left the scene at 3.22am on Sunday. Firefighters carried out four reinspections during the day - the final one was at 4.29pm.

UPDATE, 28 October: More about the fire investigation.