FIRE!

Fire At No 13, Hillview Road, Hatch End

Flames shot up from trees in a garden in Hatch End on Wednesday April 1st late afternoon. Neighbours rushed to the scene. 

I saw the fire as a small flame beyond the garages, seen above them, therefore at least eight foot high. 

I saw people running from No 11 to No 13. Nobody had phones in their hands. So, in case they had all rushed to help before phoning, or everybody assumed that somebody else had phoned, I dialled 999.

I alerted the Fire Brigade to the fire at No 13 Hillview Road. I was relieved to hear them say they were already on their way, having been alerted to a fire at No 11. 

The flame suddenly shot up twice as wide and higher. In retrospect I realize that it must have been one of the taller trees catching fire and flames shooting up from it.

I dashed over to shout to people to get out of the house.

Smoke billowed as high as the houses. The fire engine arrived and officers entered Number eleven. With amazing speed, seconds later, I saw the hoses on the ground in front of the house and smoke diminishing at the back. Fire officers also entered number eleven to douse the fire from the other side. 

I took a quick instant snap of fire woman Helen Demayer (with her permission). But I did not question her and delay her as the fire people were still busy spraying water on the smouldering trees. 

Neighbours stayed with a shocked person at No 13 until other members of the family who were away shopping could get home. One of the neighbours offered to make tea. What a good thought.

A day later it was evident several trees had been burned. A member of the fire crew had confirmed my impression, that a few seconds later the fire could have caught the house.

The cause of the fire cannot be stated - at least not by me. At first a passer-by in the street thought that the fire started at number eleven. It was in the garden. So the most likely cause was a bonfire.  But was it? No. Next day, other said they thought the cause was a flame weed-killer. This has not been confirmed.

How can you prevent garden fires happening to you? What causes fires in summer? Cigarettes? Barbecues? Avoid barbecues on just the day when it's fine weather? Only hold barbecues on drizzly days! Some hot countries ban both fires and barbecues on hot days.  The sign on the side of the fire engine said that free smoke alarms are available.

Neighbours calling at number 13 had thought the fire had started spontaneously. We stood around wondering. Residents want to be sure it won't happen again. Somebody said it could have been anything, such as a piece of glass catching or reflecting the light. It was one of the hottest days of the year. 

It may be April 1st but it was no joke to have fire destroying trees and frightening the family. A superstitious person might say the people at No 13 were unlucky. But I would say they were lucky. Only the trees were damaged. The quick action of the fire brigade prevented the fire spreading to houses and nobody was hurt. Fire brigades must get called to worse fires at houses which are not number 13. However, I shall remember that on April 1st I saw flames at number 13.

Statistics:

12,000 people are killed or injured in UK house fires each year. Risk factors inside houses include candles, deep fat fryers and woks, electric blankets (we had a fire start suddenly when somebody was in the bed), TVs and electrical devices left on stand-by overnight or unattended in the daytime. Smoke alarms should be installed on each level of a building and tested regularly.

For a smoke alarm contact:

Fire Brigade Safe and Sound 08000 28 44 28.

Useful websites: www.london-fire.gov.uk

www.firekills.gov..uk

The London  site includes information including giving a questionnaire on your home's firerisk assessment, offers of fire safety checks, and email contact details.

For more information or permission to print copyright photos, contact freelance writer and photo-journalist Angela Lansbury. 

annalondon8@gmail.com

First published in blogger.com under AngelaLansburyAuthorDiary

WORDS & PICTURES COPYRIGHT ANGELA LANSBURY 2009