Chimney fire in thatched property in Burdrop

In the afternoon of Tuesday 27 December at around 4pm, Oxfordshire County Council Fire And Rescue Service were called to reports of a chimney fire at a thatched house in Burdrop, near Hook Norton.  

Upon arrival crews found extremely high temperatures emitting from the chimney stack and smoke in the loft.  Hook Norton's fire appliance was supported by one from Banbury and a special camera was brought in from Kidlington to find the heat source.  The hydraulic platform was also brought in from Rewley Road to enable firefighters to remove the metal flue liner of the chimney.

Firefighters were on scene for four hours and prevented the fire from getting into the thatch but some damage was caused to the chimney.  Before leaving, crews offered advice to the occupants of the two houses that shared the chimney, and fitted smoke alarms in both properties.  

The Fire Service recommend that chimneys are swept twice a year, even if they only get occasional use, and ensure that wood burning stoves are fitted by a competent installer.