Wiltshire thatch fire 'likely to have started around fireplace'

Wiltshire's fire service says a thatch fire in Durrington is believed to have started accidentally - likely in or around the fireplace.

Crews were called to tackle the blaze on Saturday evening (April 12).

They received the call at 17:08 - and it took until 09:02 the next morning for the service to confirm it had been put out.

Sharing information about the incident, crews confirmed: "We were called at 5.08pm today (12 April) to Hackthorne Road, Durrington to reports of a thatch fire. Crews from Amesbury, Marlborough, Warminster, Mere, Shaftesbury (x2), Trowbridge, Verwood, a water carrier from Wilton, a command unit from Devizes and an aerial ladder platform from Salisbury initially attended.

"On arrival, they found a well-developed fire affecting the roof and first floor of the property. Firefighters used multiple hose reel jets, main lines and an aerial ladder platform to extinguish.

"Relief crews were then brought in overnight from Trowbridge, Wilton, Westbury, Swindon, Westbourne and Ludgershall. At approx. 12.45am this morning (13 April) this was then scaled back to one crew and an aerial ladder platform to continue dampening down. A reinspection is expected to take place later today.

"We are working closely with our colleagues at Wiltshire Police and the ambulance service.

"The A345 and Church Street remains closed until further notice. No casualties have been reported."

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