House fire - Aspley Guise
At 6.24pm on Saturday (12) we were called to a house fire in The Avenue, Aspley Guise.
At 6.24pm on Saturday (12) we were called to a house fire in The Avenue, Aspley Guise.
First attending crews were met with a significant fire in the roof of a large three-storey house, that was spreading rapidly.
In total, six fire engines, two water carriers, an aerial platform, the incident command unit and support fire engine, along with fire officers, attended the fire and deployed a number of firefighting tactics using hose reels and jets to bring the fire under control and extinguish it.
Group Commander Lee Slipanczewski said: “Crews worked tirelessly throughout the night to extinguish the fire and protect neighbouring properties. Luckily, no one was in the property at the time.”
Crews from Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire fire and rescue service attended to support operations, alongside police and the ambulance service.
In the early hours of the morning once the fire was under control, the incident was scaled down with a number of crews returning to their stations. At about 6am just two fire appliances remained on scene to check for hotspots and dampen down any areas.
Significant fire damage has been caused to the house and a multi-agency fire investigation will now take place to determine the cause of the fire.
UPDATE 14/10/24
A multi-agency fire investigation has taken place following the fire and is now complete.
It has determined the fire started accidentally, with the most likely cause being a fire in the chimney, with heat that has radiated through to the beams or joists.
This is a timely reminder for residents to have their chimneys swept before using them.
Group Commander Lee Slipanczewski added: “Ensure chimneys and flues are swept regularly by a professional chimney sweep, and between sweeps, keep chimneys, flues and appliances clean and well maintained.
“If you have a fuel burning appliance, it is also advisable to have a working and regularly tested carbon monoxide alarm in the same room. And don’t forget to ensure every floor of your home has a working and tested smoke alarm.”
For more information about chimney fire safety, visit: Chimney Fire Safety | Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service (bedsfire.gov.uk)
- Ensure chimneys and flues are swept regularly by a professional chimney sweep
- Between “sweeps” keep chimneys, flues and appliances clean and well maintained
- Be careful when using open fires to keep warm. Always use a fire guard to protect against flying sparks from hot embers
- Never store the fuel next to the appliance so sparks do not set it alight
- Ensure the fire is completely out before going to bed or leaving the house.