Timely reminder, please check your smoke alarm and get your chimney swept again

[JP1]

We have lost three thatched houses in three days here in West Suffolk

Whilst they are obviously more prone to major damage, any property is susceptible

It's been a long cold winter so stay safe and get your chimney swept and check your smoke alarms

 

[Flossie]

They push it on the radio round us.........when you put your clocks forward next week, check your smoke alarm

 

[JP1]

Twice a year is not enough. Can think of at least half a dozen fires where the smoke alarm saved the occupants

Do it tomorrow and stay safe

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Plumber Mate of mine had a phone call last week late at night "my carbon monoxide alarm has gone off"he rushed over with his meter to find the reading off the scale , it was a Stanley cooker don't know what the problem was but the old lady would have been shurly dead without that alarm

 

[JP1]

Bump - and photo added from last night

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Reminds me of our thatched house that was burnt to the ground in 1962 the house of my birth all that was left was the brick walls

 

[JP1]

Reminds me of our thatched house that was burnt to the ground in 1962 the house of my birth all that was left was the brick walls

I'm sorry if it brought back sad memories. I came home past the place tonight, a ghost of a place now and that acrid smoke smell. Being a firefighter, I can't say I'd recommend anyone to have a thatched place no matter how picturesque. They don't have fires any more than any other construction type but when they go you've got to be damned quick getting the thatch off before they go to the ground

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I was only seven at the time so quite exciting, no one was hert but we lost most of our things, there was oak beams running into the chimney and the fireman said they had been smouldering for weeks,

 

[JP1]

I was only seven at the time so quite exciting, no one was hert but we lost most of our things, there was oak beams running into the chimney and the fireman said they had been smouldering for weeks,

Yes very common to find that Derrick

 

[JP1]

http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/suffolk_...eys_swept_again_fire_service_advice_1_1984555

 

[Stoxs]

I'm sorry if it brought back sad memories. I came home past the place tonight, a ghost of a place now and that acrid smoke smell. Being a firefighter, I can't say I'd recommend anyone to have a thatched place no matter how picturesque. They don't have fires any more than any other construction type but when they go you've got to be damned quick getting the thatch off before they go to the ground

Seen all to many thatched cottages in this condition over the years, totally agree why would anyone want to live in such a place is beyond me. On top of that have a nice hot chimney up through it , it`s a fire waiting to happen.
That smell is so distinct, remember hunting the fire one evening because we could smell it but didnt know where it was.