Smoke on the Roof Sparks Major Blaze in Old Basing
A sharp-eyed bakery worker spotted smoke curling from a roof in Old Basing, triggering a swift evacuation and a major fire response.
Fire Crews Rush In From Five Areas
Just before 3pm, fire crews from Basingstoke, Rushmoor, Hartley Wintney, Andover, and Eastleigh arrived on scene. The roof was well alight. Firefighters fought the flames with four hose reel jets and an aerial ladder, battling to save the building.
Solar Panels Blamed for the Fire
“It’s believed the fire was caused by solar panels on the roof,” said Station Manager Simon Forster, incident commander.
Thankfully, no one was hurt. But the roof and part of the first floor suffered heavy damage.
Local Bakery Staff Heroic Amid Chaos
“Two of my team, Jared and Emily, saw the smoke and ran across to make sure the owner’s daughter was safe,” said bakery owner Tim Goodwin.
“Sonia and Natalia stayed behind to keep the shop open for firefighters. I’m really proud of my team.”
The Street Bakeshop stayed open throughout, offering their facilities to crews tackling the blaze.
Firefighters Salvage and Douse Until Evening
By 5pm, crews were salvaging belongings and damping down hot spots. The all-clear was given just after 6.30pm, with the response scaled back to two fire engines and the aerial ladder.
