FIRE crews are tackling a fire at thatched properties in Porlock since last night.

Fire control received calls about a thatched property on fire in Porlock yesterday (Monday, May 1) at around 7pm and tackled the fire until the early hours of this morning (Tuesday, May 2), when crews were “making steady progress”.

The incident, however, is still ongoing the service said, adding that "at 14:32pm, our crews are still working to dampen down hot spots with a 1 hr triple jet extension ladder to prevent the fire spreading". 

A further update from the fire service said the incident was closed at around 3.12pm today (May 2).

A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said: “This incident is still ongoing, at 9.25 am this morning our crews were ‘making steady progress’.

“Our officers are still putting out the fire. All our pumps are still in attendance.”

Yesterday, the fire service was asking people to “stay away from the Porlock Weir area and keep windows and doors shut due to large amounts of smoke”.

Crews were mobilised from multiple stations in West Somerset and North Devon.

These are the updates shared by the fire service last night and early this morning (Tuesday, May 2) as crews battled the blaze:

At 20:38 - Make pumps 12 message received. A further four fire engines were mobilised, along with the incident support unit from Martock.

At 21:42 - Crews are making steady progress using ladders, breathing apparatus, small tools and hose reel jets.

At 23:30- Fire Control mobilised crews from Ilfracombe, Appledore, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe, Cullompton, Burnham-on-Sea, Street, and Chard to provide relief cover for crews working at the incident.

At 00:12 - Crews are making good progress in stripping thatch from the property. Two breathing apparatus and a hose reel jet are in use.

At 02:17 - Changeover of relief crews was completed, one breathing apparatus, ladders, 1x 45mm jet, and two hose reel jets were in use.

At 04:00 - Fire Control mobilsed crews from Hartland, Braunton, Tiverton, and Chulmleigh to provide relief cover for crews working at the incident.

At 04:21 - Crews making steady progress, with two breathing apparatus, two 45mm jets, one hose reel jet, ladders, and safe working at height and confined space (SHACS) in use.

At 06:48 - Crews are at work making up equipment. One hose reel jet and thermal image camera are still in use.

The service also added that "further information will be added in due course".

A spokesperson for the service also said: "We offer free home safety visits to provide fire safety advice to anyone with a thatched property (in Devon or Somerset) and provide them with bespoke fire safety advice for their home to help prevent them from having a thatch property fire: Thatched properties | Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (dsfire.gov.uk)."