This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/20/fire-engulfs-island-poole-harbour

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Fire engulfs luxury lodge on island in Poole harbour Fire engulfs luxury lodge on island in Poole harbour
(about 1 hour later)
Dozens of firefighters had to be ferried out to a small island on fast boats after fire broke out at a millionaire's luxury eco-home retreat.Dozens of firefighters had to be ferried out to a small island on fast boats after fire broke out at a millionaire's luxury eco-home retreat.
Crews were rushed out to Green Island in Poole harbour, Dorset, and used thousands of litres of seawater to try to douse the flames that engulfed the three-storey wooden building. A barge carrying water was also dispatched to the scene.Crews were rushed out to Green Island in Poole harbour, Dorset, and used thousands of litres of seawater to try to douse the flames that engulfed the three-storey wooden building. A barge carrying water was also dispatched to the scene.
As well as trying to save the building, the firefighters battled to stop the flames spreading across the 18-hectare island, a site of special scientific interest and one of the few places in Britain where red squirrels thrive.As well as trying to save the building, the firefighters battled to stop the flames spreading across the 18-hectare island, a site of special scientific interest and one of the few places in Britain where red squirrels thrive.
The island was bought by Edward Iliffe in 2005 for £2.5m and he won planning permission to build a luxury six-bedroom log cabin as a holiday retreat for his family.The island was bought by Edward Iliffe in 2005 for £2.5m and he won planning permission to build a luxury six-bedroom log cabin as a holiday retreat for his family.
Iliffe, the great-grandson of the newspaper magnate Lord (Edward) Iliffe, has spent the last two years building the hideaway. Much of the house, made from cedar wood, had been finished.Iliffe, the great-grandson of the newspaper magnate Lord (Edward) Iliffe, has spent the last two years building the hideaway. Much of the house, made from cedar wood, had been finished.
The owner, who is based in Berkshire, said he would travel to Poole as soon as he could to assess the damage. Iliffe said the two-year building project was only three or four months from completion before the fire.
"I know nothing about the fire. I am in meetings all day but I will get down there as soon as I can," he said. "It was not completed but the house was up and it did look like a house." He said: "The fire brigade and the harbour master have been doing a great job. I have been to the site and the house is still burning. It is just a big bonfire in a large wooden building. We will know in three days time what the cause was.
Iliffe said no one was living on the island and the property is covered by insurance. "We were just three or four months away from completing it. It is a blow but we can rebuild it, we will just have to get on with it.
"It is only a building and it is insured so we can start again, it's not a total disaster by any means. Nobody has been hurt, which is the main thing."
The alarm was raised by people working on the property. A fire service spokesman said: "When we arrived at the house we were met with an intense fire that had engulfed two floors and rapidly spread to other parts of the building, including the roof that was well alight.The alarm was raised by people working on the property. A fire service spokesman said: "When we arrived at the house we were met with an intense fire that had engulfed two floors and rapidly spread to other parts of the building, including the roof that was well alight.
"The fire burned fiercely for three hours before we could bring it under some form of control."The fire burned fiercely for three hours before we could bring it under some form of control.
"Our cause wasn't helped by the fact that it was a timber building and that we couldn't use all our normal equipment because of the remoteness of the scene.""Our cause wasn't helped by the fact that it was a timber building and that we couldn't use all our normal equipment because of the remoteness of the scene."
The spokesman said the cabin had been gutted.The spokesman said the cabin had been gutted.
Peter Stebbing, 83, who lives on Sandbanks on the mainland and overlooks the harbour, said: "I saw what looked like a funny-coloured cloud and then I realised it was smoke. It is such a shame because I understand the house was built and was being furnished.Peter Stebbing, 83, who lives on Sandbanks on the mainland and overlooks the harbour, said: "I saw what looked like a funny-coloured cloud and then I realised it was smoke. It is such a shame because I understand the house was built and was being furnished.
"I know that Mr Iliffe and his family were down there over the Easter weekend and I suppose they will have to start all over again.""I know that Mr Iliffe and his family were down there over the Easter weekend and I suppose they will have to start all over again."