House wrecked by fierce blaze

Published on 24th May 2007 in News

Crews from Howden, Market Weighton, Hull and Selby were called to the scene.

Firefighters from Howden were among the five crews who tackled a blaze which destroyed a rural farmhouse near Bubwith last Thursday.

South Grange Farm on Hankins Lane, Ellerton, near Bubwith, was engulfed in flames when the first crews arrived at 9.43pm.

At first, firefighters feared people were trapped inside the building but it was later discovered that the occupants were out of the country.

The first crews reported that the first and ground floors were well alight.

The fire was showing signs of breaking through the roof as they were taking out the first of their hoses.

Crews were subsequently sent from Howden, Market Weighton, Hull West and Selby to help fight the blaze.

Such was the ferocity of the fire that around 11pm the roof and first floor of the home collapsed leaving the building in a very dangerous condition and increasing the hazards for crews at the scene.

At the peak of the blaze, eight firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used two hosereels, three main water jets and an aerial jet to contain the fire.

The farmhouse was destroyed by the blaze.

Glenn Ramsden, spokesperson for Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This was a particularly severe fire that was well established by the time the first crews arrived. It was a question of containment and preventing further spread for the firefighters at the scene.

"It is often more difficult to establish firefighting operations at fires in rural areas as water supplies are not so plentiful.

"At one point, crews had to establish a water relay to provide enough water to fight the fire.

"The crews worked exceptionally hard at the scene, especially in the early stages of the job, before the full complement of resources were in attendance."

Investigations into the cause of the blaze are still ongoing.