Crews tackle roof fires in Stowupland and Stoke by Nayland

Eight fire crews have tackled a blaze in the roof of a converted barn in Stowupland while firefighters also tackled an incident at the same time in Stoke by Nayland.

The Stowupland incident was initially reported by a member of the public as a chimney fire at a property in Saxham Street at just after 7.30pm on Wednesday. One crew was sent to the scene.

A fire service spokesman said: “A further call to the property reported flames beginning to issue from the roof tiles, as a result, fire control enhanced the attendance to two pumps and aerial ladder platform with support pump from Ipswich East.

“On arrival, crews found a fire that had spread from the chimney to the roof space and was by now well developed. Crews sent an assistance message to make pumps six. Crews were ordered from Princes Street, Eye and Debenham along with the command unit and support pump from Ixworth.”

At midnight, the spokesman issued an update, saying that eight crews were at the scene of the ongoing incident and the aerial ladder platform had been used by firefighters working to remove roof tiles.

The spokesman said: “At this time, crews remain in attendance. Relief crews from Haverhill, Newmarket, Wickhambrook and Hadleigh have been mobilised.

“Sudbury rescue pump has been on standby at Stowmarket, Ipswich East oncall have stood by on their own station to maintain fire cover in Ipswich.

“The Salvation Army are in attendance providing refreshments to fire crews.”

The blaze in Stoke by Nayland saw crews from hadleigh and Nayland spend about 90 minutes fighting a chimney blaze at a house in Scotland Street. The incident was under control and the crews returned to their stations by 10pm.