Cold weather sparks thatch fire warning
As temperatures drop and people turn to the warmth of a real fire and electric blankets to stave off winter chills, the UK's leading rural insurer NFU Mutual is urging the owners of thatched properties to ensure they carry-out essential checks to prevent the risk of a fire destroying their home.
Although statistically a home with a thatched roof is no more likely to catch fire than a home with a conventional roof, if a thatched roof does ignite the fire is very difficult to control and the results can be devastating with some buildings being partially or totally destroyed.
If a thatch property is damaged by fire, it can take up to 18 months for a property to be re-built, or even longer for a listed building. Therefore any steps a homeowner can take to reduce the risk of a thatch fire could help to avoid the inconvenience and heartache of dealing with the aftermath of such an event.
Commenting on the importance of protecting thatched properties, Nicki Whittaker from NFU Mutual, said: "Living beneath a thatched roof doesn't mean you can't enjoy the warmth of a real fire, but it is important homeowners exercise a degree of caution before lighting an open fire or wood burning stove.
"There are plenty of measures you can employ to help protect your property this winter. Homeowners can carry out their own checks, but if you have not used your fire or wood-burner for a while its probably advisable you speak to a qualified thatcher or fire safety officer for further tips on preventative measures."
Although around 90% of thatch fires relate to chimneys and the use of wood burning stoves, electrical faults are also to blame for a small percentage of fires, as NFU Mutual members Mr and Mrs Webb from Hampshire discovered when a fire broke-out at their grade II listed thatched cottage at the end of October 2010.
Mr and Mrs Webb left the property early on Saturday morning and when they returned around noon the smoke alarms were going off. An initial inspection of the ground floor didn't reveal any fire. However, upstairs, in the couple's bedroom it was a very different story and the bed and curtains were alight.
The prompt arrival of Hampshire Fire Brigade prevented the thatch from catching fire and an investigation revealed that a faulty electric blanket was the cause of the fire as Mr Webb explains:
"Although the electric blanket was not on, a fault in the flex between the plug socket and the control switch caused the fire. Had my wife not returned when she did we might have lost the entire cottage."
To help homeowners, NFU Mutual has produced a number of online guides giving advice about buying and caring for a thatched property. Homeowners can visit nfumutual.co.uk to view the guides or for more thatch tips.
Tips for thatch fire safety:
Ensure your chimney stack is at least five feet above the thatch, allowing sparks to escape and die-out before they settle.
Have your chimney checked to ensure that the brick or stone work is in good condition, especially where it passes through the thatch.
Consider having your chimney lined. An insulated lining should be fitted where the stack passes through the thatch.
When installing a stove, make sure you employ a professional with experience of thatched properties to do the job.
Keep an eye on the flue temperature by fitting a flue thermometer.