Warning after serious thatch fire
The Service is issuing advice to the owners of thatched properties following a fire which destroyed a thatched cottage in Ide, near Exeter, on Friday (23 January).
Twelve fire engines were at the incident in Little John’s Cross and fire crews have re-visited throughout the weekend to dampen down hotspots.
Firefighters covered neighbouring thatched properties with foam to prevent the fire spreading and worked hard to save as much of the building and its contents as possible.
The fire is believed to have started inside the building before spreading to the roof.
There have also been at least nine chimney fires across the Service area in the last three days.
Recent research has shown that, generally, the main cause of fires in thatched properties is heat transfer from the chimney into the thatch. The thatch then reaches its ignition temperature and a roof fire can develop.
Community Safety Prevention Manager Marc House, of Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, said precautions can be taken to reduce the risk of fire.
He said: “With another cold snap on its way, people will continue to use open fires. You need to take necessary steps such as ensuring your chimney is swept regularly, depending upon what fuel you burn and I would urge all householders to have working smoke alarms in their home.”
It is also important to insulate the chimney flue to prevent the heat from transferring into the thatch layer. This is especially important when a solid fuel or wood burner is installed as they burn at higher temperatures than conventional open fires.
Consider forming a fireproof barrier between the roof timbers and the thatch layer when renovating or undertaking re-roofing. A thatch fire will be mainly restricted to the thatch and damage to the rest of the house will be limited.
Smoke alarms should be installed throughout the home. If you have a loft space then an interlinked smoke alarm should be installed which is linked to at least one other within the home.
The following organisations can help you locate a qualified chimney sweep in your area:
The National Society of Master Thatchers (NSMT) www.nsmtltd.co.uk
The Association of Professional Independent Chimney Sweeps www.apics.org.uk
National Association of Chimney Engineers (NACE) www.nace.org.uk
National Association of Chimney Sweeps www.nacs.org.uk
More information about the incident in Ide is here: http://www.dsfire.gov.uk/News/Newsdesk/IncidentDetail.cfm?IncidentID=317...
More information on thatch safety is here.
