Property fire

Fire control received a call to a fire in a block of flats on Alexander road in Plymouth.

Control mobilised 6 fire appliances from Ivybridge, Bere Alston, Greenbank, Ashburton, Modbury and Yelverton, 1 aerial ladder platform from Crownhill, 1 incident command unit from Honiton and 5 supporting officers. 

On arrival, crews confirmed fire in kitchen of ground floor flat involving a cooker. Evacuation was taking place and crews were getting ready to extinguish fire using Breathing apparatus, 1 hose reel jet and 1 safety jet.

Update @ 12:26 - crews were deployed in BA to extinguish fire. Whilst crews were inside the property, crews used a smoke curtain to prevent smoke travelling from flat where fire originated.

Update @ 12:40 - crews have now located and extinguished fire in kitchen of ground floor flat. Evacuation was still being carried out and role call taking place. 2 Hose reel jets, 1 safety jet, 1 positive pressure ventilation fan and thermal imaging camera in use. 

Update @ 12:56 - crews have confirmed breathing apparatus has now been discontinued and the incident is being sectorised. 

Update @ 13:23 - building consisting of 6 floors used as student accommodation. Fire in ground floor flat kitchen involving cooker. 2 BA now discontinued, 2 hose reel jets, 1 safety jet, 1 positive pressure ventilation, 1 smoke curtain and 1 thermal imaging camera in use. Electrics have been isolated to affected kitchen. Crews are exposing and cutting away at affected areas using small tools.

Update @ 13:39 - Fire crews have assisted evacuating 131 people but approx. 242 people were in the building at the time of call. As of 14:00 crews were allowing a phased return for students to return to their flats following cutting away of affected area checking for hotspots using thermal imaging camera. 

Final update @ 14:55 - Fire involving cooker in ground floor flat. Building was used as student accommodation consisting of 6 floors. Room of origin was 10% damaged by fire and 60% damaged by smoke. Crews used 2 breathing apparatus, 2 hose reel jets, 1 smoke curtain, 1 safety jet, 1 positive pressure ventilation, 1 gas detector, small tools, 2 thermal imaging cameras, 1 gas detector, small tools and 1 aerial ladder platform. This fire was deemed as accidental.

These are the final details.