UPDATED: Seven fire crews tackle hoarder's house blaze

Firefighters at the scene of the blaze this morning - the fire was still smouldering at 4pm Firefighters at the scene of the blaze this morning - the fire was still smouldering at 4pm

 

HOMES have been evacuated and roads closed as firefighters battle to get a town house fire under control.

Firefighters have confirmed no one else was inside a three-storey town house which caught fire this morning.

Vange Hill Drive has been blocked off by police near Sturrocks and a number of homes next to the burning hosue in Gambleside have been evacuated.

There were fears the elderly homeowner's sister may have been inside as firefighters with breathing apparatus searched the property.

The owner, a man believed to be in his 70s, was taken to hospital suffering smoke inhalation after the fire started at around 8am.

Neighbours said he was well-known for hoarding a large amount of items in his home and the council had cleared it less than two years ago but the rubbish had built back up.

Crews are still struggling to put the fire out due to a large amount of junk and clutter stored inside the property, which they have also been trying to clear.

Up to seven fire engines have been at the scene of the house.

Police, ambualnce crews and the national grid are also at the scene. 

Comments(13)

Olivia2847 says...
1:42pm Sun 9 Dec 12

Have we still got seven fire engines - Pugh,, Pugh, Barney et al ?

louise-grace says...
2:16pm Sun 9 Dec 12

The house is not a town house it's a normal 3 bed house just with garages underneath and only the 2 houses either side has been evacuated

louise-grace says...
2:17pm Sun 9 Dec 12

No when I was there there was engines from Basildon, wickford, Brentwood and Rayleigh weir

Eric Whim says...
4:28pm Sun 9 Dec 12

the burning hosue


burning house

smoke inhilation


inhalation

Neighbour's said


Neighbours said


buult back up.


built back up

ambualnce crews


ambulance crews

Is this written by a different Jon Austin to the 'award winning' journalist Jon Austin?

Brunning999 says...
5:43pm Sun 9 Dec 12

It is all very well to respect the human rights of these nutters however do they also respect human rights?

This idiot has put his neighbours lives at risk.

If the place is council he should be booted out and made to pay for the damage.

Being nice to some people can kill others.

Audioman says...
6:02pm Sun 9 Dec 12

It was bacon beaqn's and chips this time

Olivia2847 says...
6:54pm Sun 9 Dec 12

Eric Whim wrote:
the burning hosue


burning house

smoke inhilation


inhalation

Neighbour's said


Neighbours said


buult back up.


built back up

ambualnce crews


ambulance crews

Is this written by a different Jon Austin to the 'award winning' journalist Jon Austin?
His sister Jane was much worse when she was his age ......

echoforum says...
9:20pm Sun 9 Dec 12

Hoarders should be obliged by law only to hoard non-inflammable nick nacks.

JOB DONE

louise-grace says...
10:53pm Sun 9 Dec 12

After living 2 doors down from this man for 20 years, he is constantly getting asked by us neighbours to keep it to minimum, over the years it's just got worse, I've been told this is the second house fire his been in due to his hoarding, obviously he didn't learn the first time, I'm fed up with my family being in constant danger. And I hate the rats! I've had enough now

J_blond says...
10:11am Mon 10 Dec 12

Eric Whim wrote:
the burning hosue
burning house
smoke inhilation
inhalation
Neighbour's said
Neighbours said
buult back up.
built back up
ambualnce crews
ambulance crews Is this written by a different Jon Austin to the 'award winning' journalist Jon Austin?
I hope you're going to send an invoice as they've made all corrections...

Apart from hosue - which is strange that it can't be spelt right, considering it's mentioned so often in the opening three paragraphs.

DogsMessInLeigh says...
10:19am Mon 10 Dec 12

Eric Whim wrote:
the burning hosue


burning house

smoke inhilation


inhalation

Neighbour's said


Neighbours said


buult back up.


built back up

ambualnce crews


ambulance crews

Is this written by a different Jon Austin to the 'award winning' journalist Jon Austin?
No i think it was Jaon Ostin his Norwegian cousin.

Nebs says...
12:26pm Mon 10 Dec 12

DogsMessInLeigh wrote:
Eric Whim wrote:
the burning hosue


burning house

smoke inhilation


inhalation

Neighbour's said


Neighbours said


buult back up.


built back up

ambualnce crews


ambulance crews

Is this written by a different Jon Austin to the 'award winning' journalist Jon Austin?
No i think it was Jaon Ostin his Norwegian cousin.
There's a Norwegian down our local pub, the landlord is always shouting his name, Lars Torders.

muffindamule says...
8:16pm Mon 10 Dec 12

Olivia2847 wrote:
Eric Whim wrote:
the burning hosue


burning house

smoke inhilation


inhalation

Neighbour's said


Neighbours said


buult back up.


built back up

ambualnce crews


ambulance crews

Is this written by a different Jon Austin to the 'award winning' journalist Jon Austin?
His sister Jane was much worse when she was his age ......
Yeah, she couldn't even spell her own name !

click2find

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