Early Morning Thatched Roof Blaze in Durley Doused
Twelve fire engines raced to tackle a blaze that broke out on a thatched roof in the quiet village of Durley. More than 60 firefighters battled the flames, stopping the fire from spreading and saving the building from serious damage.
Firefighters Act Fast to Tackle Dangerous Thatch Fire
The fire broke out shortly before 8.10pm on Friday, March 25, at a property on Parsonage Lane. Smoke was seen billowing from the roof near the chimney, sparking a major response.
- Crews from Hightown, Eastleigh, St Mary’s, Bishop’s Waltham, Portchester, Botley, Fareham, Winchester, Droxford, and Cosham swiftly arrived on scene.
- Firefighters used foam sprayed from an aerial ladder to create fire breaks, halting the flames from spreading across the vulnerable thatch.
Fire Brought Under Control Quickly
By 9.30pm, the fire was isolated to the chimney breast area. Fire crews removed the affected thatch, preventing the blaze from advancing.
The incident was scaled down by 10.30pm, with teams returning to stations after ensuring the scene was secure. A reinspection was conducted at 4am to confirm the fire was fully out.
Fire Chief Credits Fire Retardant Liner and Team Effort
“Thatch roof fires can spread fast and are tough to tackle. Sadly, many homes are lost to these fires. We’re thrilled that wasn’t the case here,” said Group Manager Mark Woods.
“The property had a fire retardant liner beneath the thatch, protecting the roof timbers and the rest of the building. Along with quick and efficient firefighting, the damage was limited to just the area around the chimney.”
Investigators believe the fire started when a spark from the chimney landed on the thatch, igniting the blaze.
