Thatched cottages fire

[tobydog]

As a thatched house dweller this is always a big worry at this time of year even though we now have a new wood burner and fully insulated flue. I wonder which poor bugger started this one though!

Suffolk News & Essex News | East Anglian Daily Times

Local news headlines for Suffolk, Essex and the surrounding Suffolk and Essex areas from the East Anglian Daily Times.

www.eadt.co.uk

 

[tobydog]

Another link

Huge fire breaks out in roof of thatched home in Suffolk village

Fire crews battled a thatched roof fire overnight in A1101 Bury Road in Hengrave, near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk.

www.eadt.co.uk

 

[paulc]

Another thatched cottage went up in flames last year just a few doors down...

Cause of devastating fire at thatched cottage is revealed

An investigation has concluded into the cause of a blaze which tore through a 400-year-old thatched cottage.

www.suffolknews.co.uk

 

[Cubist]

Given the apparent disparity between the numbers reported in the news and those purported by insurers come renewal time I am always surprised by just how many such homes still survive. Needless to say its another excuse to hoik the premium - not that the underwriters need an excuse for that mind you.

 

[tobydog]

It's interesting that both these fires were multiple homes. Last night it was five cottages and last year it was four. We're detached and we take all the precautions we can to be safe. In a terrace of five thatched cottages the chances of someone screwing up with their fire / wood burner must be somewhat higher.

 

[88v8]

Catch me in a multi-occupancy thatched....

A well-managed wood stove does not generate sparks.
Seasoned hardwood - unless it's something sparky like apple - does not spark.

Damp wood...burning scrap like old pallets.... too much kindling to get it lit... burning too hot. That's how to set the place alight.

Here are our two stoves ready for lighting tonight.



Mostly beech, a bit of sycamore and acacia, all well seasoned.



When I bring the wood in from the (dry) woodshed, it goes into the fireplace in a sequence that guarantees at least two days before it's burned so no residual damp.

Minimal kindling. That's a bit of very thin cedar on top, usually it's all pine, no more than 6/7 pieces.



Flue thermometer to watch the temperature.



No sparks.

 

[RBailey]

Do you have any problems about the wood at the side?

I fully understand the advantage of that last extra bit of drying and often contemplate it myself but just worried about the fire risk.

Cheers,
Richard B.

 

[Cubist]

We have a similar practice to Ivor and keep supplies of logs, and kindling close to our wood-burners but we ensure that fire-lighting products are well out of range and direct line of travel from the fire-boxes.

 

[Cubist]

Just an afterthought - we sometimes dry herbs and other leaves such a eucalyptus on the top of our stoves to freshen the atmosphere. Wouldn't recommend the same to dry my socks though.

 

[a twig]

Do you have any problems about the wood at the side?

I fully understand the advantage of that last extra bit of drying and often contemplate it myself but just worried about the fire risk.

Cheers,
Richard B.

The contact ignition temperatures of timber starts around 350’C and runs up to around 600’C depending on the tree it came from so ignition is pretty unlikely just from being in the vicinity of the stove where you are talking about significantly higher air temps needed to get it to burst into flame without physical contact

Obviously if there is a big fault with the stove (it explodes or something) then you are providing a large source of fuel right next it, but then if there is that much of an issue then you’re probably in trouble anyway

 

[CliffordPope]

Paper catches fire spontaneously at 451 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[a twig]

Paper catches fire spontaneously at 451 degrees Fahrenheit.

Must be a good title for a book in that somewhere