Property fire

Fire Control received a call to reports of smoke in the area along with a small glow in the area of the above property. 

Control immediately mobilised 1 Fire Appliance from Sidmouth to investigate. 

Once on scene crews confirmed a fire involving the former council offices in Knowle well alight and made up for 6 Pumping Appliances and 1 Aerial Ladder Platform. 

Crews are at work tackling the fire and we currently have 8 Fire Appliances 2 Aerial Ladder Platforms 1 Water Bowser Supporting Appliances and Supporting Officers. 

Update 06:50

Currently on scene we have 8 Fire Appliances, 2 Aerial Ladder Platforms, 2 Water Bowsers, An Environmental Protection Unit, A Crew Welfare Unit, High Volume Pump Module, and supporting officers. 
At this time crews are at work tackling a fire within a disused building that consists of several linked buildings where approximately 1/3 of the building is involved in fire, this incident has been sectorised and crews are actively firefighting currently.
 

We ask at this time for all residents to keep windows and doors closed and to avoid the local area, we expect the local water supply to be disrupted. 

This incident is ongoing at this time and will be updated in due course. 

Update 8.45am

Work is continuing to prevent the escalation of the fire with water jets operating from three sides of the building. 

Update 10am

We have seven pumping appliances, two aerial ladder platforms and water bowsers at the scene. A high volume pump is being used to extract water from the Quay to supply crews at the incident. The hose runs from the Quay, up Station Road to The Knowle and road closures will be in place for several hours so please avoid the area. 

We are liaising with experts as protected bats are known to be in the area.

Update 2.40pm

Steady progress being made, firefighting taking place in two sectors using an aerial ladder platform to prevent fire spread to listed parts of the building. Cordons around the building remain in place.

Update 3.20pm

Steady progress continues, aerial ladder platform being used to dampen down hotspots from above.

Update 5:29pm

This incident is now scaling back but there will still be a fire service presence overnight. One aerial ladder platform is still in use damping down hot spots and steady progress is being made. 

Update 22:00 

This incident has been scaled back to 3 Fire Engines and 1 Aerial Ladder Platform, crews will remain on scene throughout the night damping down and ensuring no flare-ups of fire. crews are still at work make steady progress. High volume pump has been discontinued.

Update 7.30am, 31 March 2023

We have one appliance remaining at the scene and the road closures will be removed this morning. 

Update 8.30am

Appliances have left the scene. A third of the building was involved in fire and was severely damaged. Firefighters used seven main jets and seven hose reel jets, aerial ladder platforms and a high volume pump. The road has re-opened. Cause still under investigation. These are the final details.