DORSET fire chiefs have issued a warning to those living in thatched properties in the county in a bid to avoid costly blaze damage.
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) has urged thatched homeowners, or renters, to make sure when they light open fires to check smoke isn’t appearing from anywhere it should not be.
A spokesperson for DWFRS said: “If you have an open fire in your thatched property, when the fire is alight, check the loft space occasionally to make sure there is no smoke leaking from cracks, defective brickwork or mortar joints.”
Other tips include ensuring any electric or gas work is carried out by a registered engineer, keeping chimneys clear and sweeping them at least twice a year.
The fire service warn ‘prevention is essential and detection is nearly always too late’.
Thatch fires are ‘typically attended by in excess of 50 firefighters, at least eight appliances and often for over 24 hours,’ says the fire service in Dorset.
The National Society of Master Thatchers estimate that the average cost of a thatch fire is in excess of £45,000.
A range of fire prevention tips can be found on the DWFRS website – also see the National Society of Master Thatchers site and via The Thatch Advice Centre online.
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