Skip to content

Fire at 350-year-old thatched home was accidental

Alice Cunninghamand
Debbie Tubby,Ickburgh
News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC A firefighter stands on a ladder as they move burned straw from a thatched roof that is on fire. Smoke can be seen billowing from the property. Another firefighter is working on the ground underneath the one on the ladder.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC A drone image above a thatched roof property that is on fire. Thick plumes of smoke billow from the roof. Some firefighters watch on and work from outside the property.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service was in attendance at a blaze at a thatched home
The fire service said it was a "significant" fire

A blaze at a 350-year-old thatched home that was fought by about 50 firefighters has been deemed accidental.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service had nine crews in attendance at the peak of the incident, at a property near the A1065 in Ickburgh on 30 December.

Peter Rowe, area manager for the fire service, said the unharmed occupants were alerted at about 07:30 GMT on Tuesday and had removed themselves from the property.

Homeowner, Steve Nott, said he and his wife had all their possessions inside the home and he hoped to eventually rebuild.

"Literally within 10 minutes... it had caught hold really badly," said homeowner Steve Nott

Mr Nott and his wife have lived in the property for about 16 years.

He said he had been gone for about 15 minutes and on his way to Diss when a neighbour rang and said they had seen flames around the chimney.

"I phoned my wife and told her to get out, and get the fire brigade," he explained.

"I came back and it was already alight by then, so it didn't take long to catch fire."

He said he had tried to do "everything possible" to ensure the home was fire safe including having the chimneys swept.

"Everything we have here is in that house, all the paperwork and everything is in there, so thank goodness for mobile phones, we can probably still get in touch with the insurance companies and see what they can do.

"We've got nothing, it's all in there."

News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC Steve Nott stands in front of a large green hedge and smiles at the camera. He wears a navy cap, navy jacket and red polo top. Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Homeowner Steve Nott thanked the fire service for their speed and work

"It's a really significant fire; there's been a significant amount of damage to the property," Mr Rowe said.

"It is a semi-detached property so we are doing our best to protect both halves and the firefighting will continue for several hours."

The area manager said it was thought the fire had originated in the roof, as investigative work began.

Crews from Thetford, Methwold, Watton, King's Lynn, East Harling, Fakenham and Diss were all in attendance along with a water carrier and control unit and two crews from Suffolk.

News imageShaun Whitmore/BBC Firefighter Peter Rowe smiles at the camera on a road that has been closed off. He wears a white helmed and firefighter overalls. A fire engine and some of the crew can be seen working behind him.Shaun Whitmore/BBC
Peter Rowe, area manager for the fire service, told people to stay away from the area due to the smoke

Mr Rowe said crews would be on the scene for at least six to eight hours.

People living in the area were urged to keep doors and windows closed due to a smoke plume and the A1065 Swaffham Road was closed to allow the fire service access to water supplies.

A spokesman for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said on Friday that an investigation had found that the cause of the blaze was "accidental" and had "started in the chimney area" of the house.

Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Related internet links