Cottage roof fire at Swynnerton

Firefighters worked tirelessly to save a thatched roof in Swynnerton, near Stone, last night following a fire in the cottage’s loft space.

Thatch fires are notoriously difficult for firefighters to fight. Visually they look slow burning but they spread very rapidly once they take hold in the roof.

Four crews from Longton, Newcastle and Eccleshall attended at 5.55pm last night using hose reel jets to suppress the fire and main jets to extinguish the thatch on fire and to prevent further spread. They were assisted by an aerial ladder platform.

The occupants of the building left the cottage before calling 999 and were unhurt.

Graham Mills, Head of Emergency Response at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Firefighters worked very hard to extinguish the fire and remove some of the thatch to successfully contain the flames and save the remaining thatch.

“Thatch fires are notoriously difficult for firefighters to fight. Visually they look slow burning but they spread very rapidly once they take hold in the roof.”