One person taken to hospital after fire at Tilshead home
Firefighters called to the Wiltshire village last night
Last updated 5th Dec 2022
Several fire crews were called to Tilshead last night after a fire broke out at a home in the village just before 8pm.
25 fire fighters tackled the blaze at the property in the High Street.
The male occupant, believed to be in his late 60s or early 70s, suffered from smoke inhalation and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service told Greatest Hits Radio thanks to the efforts of those on the scene the neighbouring property was saved;
"The fire started on the ground floor and spread up to the first floor and roof; firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the adjacent thatched property."
The road was closed in both directions for several hours.
UPDATE
An investigation found the fire started accidentally in a ground floor room, where items stored next to the wood-burning stove had ignited.
That's prompted a warning from DWFRS:
Group Manager Graham Kewley said:
“We know that many people will be using wood-burners and open fires more this winter, as they seek to keep costs down. We would urge everyone to make sure they don’t store items close to fireplaces, as built-up heat and sparks can both lead to fires starting that can then spread to the room. We also recommend having chimneys swept regularly, and to only burn wood that is dry and not covered in paint.”