FIREFIGHTERS from Newton Abbot were called to a bungalow ‘completely engulfed in flames’ on Sunday, August 10.

Joined by their colleagues from Torquay, the town’s crew were mobilised to Milber after having received reports of a roof fire.

‘Upon our arrival the crews were met with a bungalow that was completely engulfed in flames with smoke and fire issuing from all areas of the building and through the roof’, a spokesperson for Newton Abbot Fire Station said.

Given the scale of the incident, the Incident Commander (IC) requested a total of six pumps, as well as an Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP).

Around ten minutes into the incident, the roof collapsed, making the building too dangerous for the crew to enter.

Crews split up, surrounded the property and used 51mm attack jets to bring the fire under control, including from above thanks to the ALP.

‘This tactic allowed thousands of litres of water to be applied directly onto the worst areas of the fire, whilst keeping crews as safe as possible’, the spokesperson said.

The building was then deemed safe enough to enter, after which several firefighters went inside with hose reel jets, ceiling hooks, halligan bars, sledge hammers and a variety of other tools.

‘Thankfully this property has been derelict for a number of years and as a result, nobody was injured and the ongoing effects from this incident will be limited’ the fire station spokesperson added.