Thatched roof fire

Firefighters worked with crews from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service at a thatched roof fire in Birdbrook today. 

Eight crews from Halstead, Wethersfield, Saffron Walden, Dunmow and Suffolk FRS’ Clare and Haverhill were called to a thatched roof fire in Finkle Green, Birdbrook at 9:11am. 

On arrival, crews reported the thatched roof of a cottage was 100% alight.

Firefighters worked together to remove the thatch from the roof and extinguished the fire in sections. 

An Aerial Ladder Platform from Colchester was also used to help extinguish the fire from above. 

Due to a difficult water supply, a Water Bowser from Halstead was set up to shuttle water to the scene. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire by 1:35pm and believe the fire started in a chimney flue of a log burner. 

The roof has been destroyed and there has been extensive fire and smoke damage to the rest of the property. 

Station Manager Scott Fretton said: “Crews worked really hard with limited water supplies to get the fire under control. Firefighters worked quickly to remove the thatch from the roof to access the fire and worked to prevent it spreading to neighbouring buildings.”