Thatched roof advice after families left homeless
Thatched cottages in both Glemsford and Bardwell in Suffolk were hit with significant fires leading to an outpouring of community support and fundraising.
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has issued safety advice to those in these types of homes.
Measures include fitting smoke alarms, having chimneys swept regularly and never burning unseasoned, wet, soft or tanalised (pressure-treated) wood.
Two thatched cottages were destroyed in a fire in Glemsford, near Sudbury, on 6 August.
Crews at the scene said it had been difficult to fight the blaze as the thatched roof was designed to repel water.
Firefighters were forced to strip the thatch away to save as much of the property as possible.
The fire service was investigating the cause of the blaze.
In Bardwell, near Bury St Edmunds, five families lost their homes when a row of thatched cottages went up in flames on 19 April.
The cause of the fire was determined to be a hot ember from a chimney that ignited the dry thatch.
The fire service said it had various leaflets, in collaboration with the Thatch Advice Centre offering "invaluable advice" to keep homes and residents safe.
According to the Thatch Advice Centre, while thatched roofs are not more likely to catch fire, when they do it can cause "severe damage".
It is recommended that homeowners carry out regular electrical inspections to ensure systems are working correctly to avoid electrical fires.
Smoke alarms should be fitted on all floors and in the roof space, and tested regularly.
Chimneys should be checked to ensure they are in good condition and cleaned, and the greater the chimney height the higher the dispersal of any embers away from the thatch.
Lofts should also be kept free of storage items to allow ease of access in case of fire.
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