Latest update: Sevenoaks house fire

30+ Incident Sunday 09 September 2018 01:08

Sunday 09 September 2018 12:24
Fire engines: 8
Partner agencies: Electrical safety engineer (UK Power Networks), Gas safety engineer, British Red Cross, Local authority officer
Equipment: Firefighting - Main jet (hose), Firefighting - High-pressure hose reel jet, Firefighting - Ground monitor, Access - Ladder - short extension, Water - hydrant supply,
Special support vehicles: Height vehicle, Command support unit, Technical rescue unit

Sevenoaks

Firefighting operations at fire involving a large house in Sevenoaks High Street were concluded by 11.30am and Kent Fire and Rescue Service has started an investigation to determine the cause of the fire.Update 9.00amAttendance has been scaled down at a fire involving a large house in High Street, Sevenoaks. Two fire engines remain at the property damping down and extinguishing remaining hotspots. The High Street has now been reopened. There were no injuries. An investigation is to be carried out to determine the cause of the fire, which is not currently being treated as suspicious.Update 6.30amFirefighters remain at the scene of a fire at a large three-storey detached house in High Street, Sevenoaks. At its height, eight fire engines, a height vehicle and a specialist technical rescue crew attended the incident. When crews arrived they were confronted with a well-established, extensive blaze, fully involving the roof and the first from of the premises. Due to the risk of structural collapse, crews worked hard to contain the fire and limit the spread of the blaze from the outside of the building. They used the height vehicle as a water tower to attack the fire in the roof from above. The technical rescue team and local authority building surveyor assessed the structure of the property, before crews could commence firefighting inside. Crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the building used hose reel jets and main jets to contain the blaze. They used ladders to access voids with in the roof and walls to the property to help prevent further spread.All occupants were safely out of the premises and no one was injured. The British Red Cross support unit is in attendance offering support to the home owners.Group Manager Matt Deadman said: "This was a particularly severe fire and firefighters worked extremely hard in notably challenging conditions to knock back the fire and limit its spread inside the wall cavities of the building. We liaised closely with the owners of the property, keeping them well informed at each stage of the fire-fighting operations, and worked with them to safely salvage and protect personal property where possible.Attendance was scaled down to six fire engines and a height vehicle at around 6am. The High Street is expected to remain closed for some time, while crews continue dealing with the fire. The fire, which caused significant damage to the property, is not currently being treated as suspicious. A full investigation will take place once firefighting operations have concluded.Update 1:45amEight fire engines and a height vehicle are in attendance at a large fire at a three-storey house house in High Street, Sevenoaks. Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s specialist technical rescue team have also been mobilised to assist. There are no casualties. The High Street has been closed while firefighters deal with the blaze. Updates to follow.Firefighters are dealing with a house fire in High Street, Sevenoaks. Six fire engines and a height vehicle are in attendance and crews are tackling the blaze using main jets and water from a hydrant. All occupants have been accounted for and there are no casualties. The cause of the fire is not yet known.