Fresh new batch of Agony Uncle Questions and Answers

[garnett]

Hi Gareth

I think that we met briefly at the Plymouth Summer School a couple years ago?

My county has 1/6 of the country's thatch buildings in the UK. We have seen a 4 fold increase in thatch fires since 2000 which the fire service put down to incorrectly installed wood burner flues. Because the fire starts at the core of the thatch traditional means of fire fighting don't work. You can't chainsaw the burning bit out as we used to do with spark fires or arson originating on the surface. To deal with this the fire service has strategically located fire engines that use the Compressed Air Foam system (CAFS). This has a lance that means that it can be injected into the thatch to create a proper break. I saw it for real at a thatch fire at Easter and it worked. Use of GIS mapping for identifying thatch buildings is essential to get the correct kit there in time.

We have also been trained to use their aerial platform equipment to assess building damage and stability during a fire.

All in a days work for a 21 century conservation officer!

Garnett

 

[AMc]

The thatch fire issue sounds like a serious consideration. My parents are thatched and have a wood burner - correctly installed I believe - but they aren't listed.

I would hope anyone calling 999 would also be asked or have the presence of mind to mention the "thatched roof is on fire" but I realise in times of stress that might not always be the case!

Does anyone know if it is possible for the owners of a thatched house to lodge their details with the fire service so they know in advance should the worst happen?

 

[garnett]

Hi

Proper installation means that you have a flue lined with insulation and it must not be touching the brick work anywhere in the 10ft of thatch that the chimney passes through to avoid insulated hot spots.

The best thing to do re the fire service is to get your parents to request a free fire safety officer visit. He will check over the property and record its thatch roof on their system. They take a proper gps grid reference so that they know that they are high risk. They also gave me free smoke detectors!

Garnett

 

[AMc]

The wood burner replaced a Jet Master 'open' fire which was reasonably new - they went all around the houses on the installation so I expect this was dealt with.
I'll pass on the advice about the fire safety inspection though they already have a bunch of mains interconnected smoke alarms all through the house and the loft.