17th century home saved by fire crews

Monday 03 February 2014

Jersey's Fire and Rescue Service had to cut away a wall to get to a fire in a seventeenth century home in Trinity.

Residents called in the fire crews after smelling burning and feeling heat behind an unused fireplace. Although the chimney had been bricked up, it was still in use by a next-door property.

Firefighters had to use a thermal imaging camera to assess the fire, which was already beginning to scorch the plaster.

With temperatures getting above 120 degrees celsius they were able to expose the burnt lintel of the fireplace, and then use a high-pressure hose to douse the rest of the fire.

Finally, the fire fighters put in structural supports to hold the wall up until builders can complete the repair work.