Milton Keynes firefighters called in to help tackle blaze in neighbouring county

Just before 5.30pm the fire service were alerted to smoke coming from the roof of a thatched property in Great Haseley. The first attending fire crews reported that they were faced with a developing fire involving about 40% of the roof.

Crews immediately deployed firefighting jets to control the flames whilst specialist teams used chainsaws to cut a fire break to protect the remaining parts of the property.

And extra crews from MK were drafted in as more than 50 officers tackles the blaze alongside firefighters from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue and their Berkshire colleagues.

Station manager Marcus Reay said: “Our initial crews acted swiftly and used ladders to allow specialist teams to climb the roof and cut fire breaks using chainsaws.

“This is a new technique that we have developed for thatch fires which allows us to limit fire spread and giving us more time to salvage personal possessions from within properties.”

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus then fought the remainder of the fire from within the building and, externally, from ladders and an aerial appliance.

South Central Ambulance Service stood by in order to provide immediate medical assistance.