Seaton and Colyton fire crews among 19 to attend thatch blaze in Somerset

Crews from Axminster, Seaton and Colyton were among 19 fire engines called to tackle a blaze in Ilton, in South Somerset.

Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Service were called to reports of a fire at a two-storey thatched property in Church Road, Ilton, near Ilminster, at 10.20am on Thursday.

At the height of the blaze, 19 engines from across the region were in attendance, attempting to save as much of the property as possible and prevent the fire from escalating further.

Three hose reel jets and 12 safety jets, xix breathing apparatus, one fog spike, and a thatching lance to create a fire break was used, as well as a smoke curtain to stop fire and smoke from spreading to other parts of the property. 

Power in the nearby area needed to be switched off to deal with the incident. This was turned on back on between 5pm and 7pm on Thursday to allow residents nearby to heat homes and cook dinner.

Crews remained on scene overnight damping down areas to stop the fire escalating again.

In an update on Friday morning, the fire service said: "We currently have one appliance at the scene continuing to deal with hotspots. Agencies have restored power to neighbouring properties.

"Unfortunately parts of the building have become unstable and it's important that people remain a safe distance from the property. 

"We want to say a huge thank you to local residents for their patience and co-operation during this long and challenging incident. We also want to thank our partner agencies who have been working with us to tackle the incident and make sure people are safe and looked after. 

"We'll continue a presence on site to stop any further escalation."

The full list of crew attending was as follows: Danes Castle, Axminster, Bampton, Colyton, Cullompton, Honiton, Seaton, Sidmouth, Tiverton, Clyst St George, Taunton, Bridgwater, Burnham On Sea, Glastonbury, Street, Wellington, Wiveliscombe, Yeovil, Chard, Crewkerne, Frome, Ilminster, Martock, Shepton Mallet, Somerton.