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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Devizes thatched house fire: 'Picture-postcard' home shock | Devizes thatched house fire: 'Picture-postcard' home shock |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Fire has destroyed the roof of a "picture-postcard" thatched home in a Wiltshire village. | Fire has destroyed the roof of a "picture-postcard" thatched home in a Wiltshire village. |
| The blaze in Chirton, near Devizes, was tackled by almost 70 firefighters. Salvage work is under way to remove property from the building. | The blaze in Chirton, near Devizes, was tackled by almost 70 firefighters. Salvage work is under way to remove property from the building. |
| Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said crews faced a "big challenge" when they were called out early on Sunday. | Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said crews faced a "big challenge" when they were called out early on Sunday. |
| The house owner and a dog were in the building, but it is believed nobody was injured. | |
| Ian Jeary, from the fire service, said the alarm was raised by a neighbour who saw flames coming from the thatched roof. | Ian Jeary, from the fire service, said the alarm was raised by a neighbour who saw flames coming from the thatched roof. |
| 'A real shock' | 'A real shock' |
| "It's a real picture-postcard property and now it's not quite looking like that I'm afraid. | "It's a real picture-postcard property and now it's not quite looking like that I'm afraid. |
| "All of the thatch has gone. It's a real shock for the owner," he said. | "All of the thatch has gone. It's a real shock for the owner," he said. |
| "As is the way with thatched roof fires, it's almost impossible to put them out once they've taken hold because of the nature of the material involved and because it's a roof, which is designed to take water off it rather than soak it in. | "As is the way with thatched roof fires, it's almost impossible to put them out once they've taken hold because of the nature of the material involved and because it's a roof, which is designed to take water off it rather than soak it in. |
| "We also had a big challenge with [enough] water and access." | "We also had a big challenge with [enough] water and access." |
| He said it was too early to say how the fire started, but an investigation was under way. | He said it was too early to say how the fire started, but an investigation was under way. |