Sidmouth firefighters attend thatched roof blaze

Firefighters from as many as 20 different local fire stations were called out to a fire at a thatched property in Whimple yesterday (Thursday 14 July).

The incident started just after 3.30pm, and lasted until around 8am today.

According to the fire service, the fire started in a gas canister outside the property but spread to the thatched roof of a two-storey building consisting of three terraced properties.

Firefighters fought the blaze with hoses and after 8pm began retrieving belongings and stripping back the thatch to check for hotspots.

At 5am the next day, several crews were still at the scene dampening down hotspots with hoses and ladders.

All three terraced properties were reportedly 100% damaged by the fire.