The Woolpack in Stoke Mandeville, which was severely damaged by fire this morning (Sunday).

26 April 2009

Firefighters from nine stations were called to The Woolpack in Stoke Mandeville after a fire broke out in the early hours of the morning and spread rapidly through the thatched pub and restaurant.

At its peak there were more than 80 firefighters and officers from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service at the scene.

Firefighters started to extinguish the fire from the inside, and had just completed a thorough search to make sure no-one was trapped inside when the fire became so intense that they had move outside. They continued to fight the fire using jets, hose reels, foam and a turntable ladder.

They were able to move a number of gas cylinders to safety to avoid them becoming involved in the fire, and to salvage furniture and other property from the building.

Area Manager Roy Harold, incident commander, said: “The first crews at the scene entered the building wearing breathing apparatus and started to fight the fire and search the premises, as initial information was that a number of people were not accounted for.

“Thankfully they were able to confirm that no-one was in the building before having to withdraw to the outside because of the intensity of the fire.”

The crews attending included eight of the 10 fire and rescue vehicles at Aylesbury Fire Station, the turntable ladder from High Wycombe and three 9,000-litre water tankers - from Waddesdon, Princes Risborough and Bletchley - which worked in relay to supplement the water supply.

They were joined by colleagues from Great Missenden, Stokenchurch, Amersham, Haddenham and Winslow, additional crews from High Wycombe and Princes Risborough and officers from throughout the county.

The initial 999 call came in at 3.07am. The incident started to be scaled down after about five hours, but up to four crews are likely to be at the scene until Monday.

Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service is carrying out an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Roy has thanked local people for their generosity and thoughtfulness to firefighters at the scene throughout the night and day. He said: "Residents have been providing refreshments and offering toilet facilities, and it is much appreciated."