People in Achill have shared their devastation and shock after a massive wildfire tore through a dozen houses, blanketing the village in thick black smoke.
Villagers described the “traumatic” scenes after people were evacuated on Tuesday as the blaze in a field behind The Oaks spread to a number of properties near The Green.
It came on a day of devastation across the county with thousands of calls to the fire service and reports of 280 separate fires.
Emergency services were called to the blaze in Achill at around 5pm with 14 fire engines and appliances, including crews from Merseyside and Tyne and Wear.
Shocking video has revealed the moment gardens and homes in Achill were engulfed in flames – Credit: Pink Spitfire
At least 11 properties have been affected by the fire, which is currently being investigated, with a number of properties also said to be affected but not yet confirmed. No one was injured.
Greg Preston, area manager, said crews arrived at a “very well-developed fire” which was “moving quickly” due to the heat and were working to prevent it spreading further across the village, with The Green at risk of it caught fire because it was dry.
“It was very dynamic,” he added.
“It was a really tough operation for a few hours.
The aftermath of a field fire in Ashill which also destroyed a number of homes. Greg Preston gives a statement. – Credit: Sonya Duncan
“Our teams worked extremely hard.
“Throughout the night we passed the firemen.
“When I arrived you couldn’t see through the smoke.
“The smoke coming out of the properties was so thick.”
Fire crews battle blaze in Achill. – Credit: conranphotography.net
The aftermath of a field fire in Ashill which also destroyed a number of homes. – Credit: Sonya Duncan
The aftermath of a field fire in Ashill which also destroyed a number of homes. – Credit: Sonya Duncan
People had gathered on The Green on Wednesday morning to deal with the aftermath of the fire and watch as firefighters continued to put out the scene.
A number of houses in the center of the village, including the old post office building, were left gutted with roofs, windows, doors and personal belongings destroyed.
Residents fled their homes to escape the growing inferno with only the clothes on their backs, some managing to save their pets.
John and Donna Horne and their children Sophie, 10, and Katie, 8, of Edward Close, were among the families left with nothing after the fire.
The aftermath of a field fire in Ashill which also destroyed a number of homes. The Horne family, who had to evacuate their home due to severe smoke damage. Donna, John and their daughters Sophie and Katie. – Credit: Sonya Duncan
Mr Horne, who was at work at the time, told how he arrived home after receiving calls from his wife who told him the fire was “coming back to the house”.
The 48-year-old, with the help of other villagers, tried to put out the burning embers at the back of their properties before things got out of control and people were evacuated by police.
He said: “Within 10 minutes of him doing that the fire brigade came out into the back field, by which time some coal had popped up and hit the garden of the old post office which set the old post office on fire.
“It followed and followed all the way down and the wind blew it over the houses on our street next to us.
The aftermath of a field fire in Ashill which also destroyed a number of homes. – Credit: Sonya Duncan
“Then the wind picked it up and blew us around so we were in the garden and to the right there were flames in the Acacia at the back of their gardens, to our left it was down in our neighbours.”
He said there were some explosions after LPG and barbecues caught fire, describing Ashill as “just black smoke” at one point.
Mr Horne said the homes around him were “all burnt to the ground”, adding: “Some people have lost their entire lives. It’s devastating.”
The fire was still burning around midnight, local residents said, and firefighters were still on the scene at 5am.
The aftermath of a field fire in Ashill which also destroyed a number of homes. – Credit: Sonya Duncan
Mr Horne added: “The first things the girls grabbed were the guinea pig, the hamster, their laptops of course and phone chargers.
“It was so traumatic and so fast that we didn’t have time to put anything together.”
The same sense of panic was shared by a 38-year-old woman, who asked not to be named, who also lost her home in the fire.
The aftermath of a field fire in Ashill which also destroyed a number of homes. – Credit: Sonya Duncan
The mother-of-one managed to escape from her rented property within minutes of setting fire to important documents, ID and phone after seeing smoke and her fire alarm.
She said: “It’s all gone.
“All my antiques. I literally just brought back antiques and memorabilia from my grandparents and parents who are gone. You’ll never get them back, it’s irreplaceable.
“One of the other houses was under renovation and another had just been sold. As the smoke rose, a man ran out with his tools.
“At first we were all on The Green, everyone was shocked.
“Everything around was on fire.
“No one thought it would end like this.”
The aftermath of a field fire in Ashill which also destroyed a number of homes. – Credit: Sonya Duncan
The resident took refuge at the nearby Ashill Community Center overnight and is currently waiting to hear where she can be accommodated.
She added that the old post office, which now houses a kindergarten, had closed early on Tuesday due to the intense heat and was empty at the time of the fire.
Irene South, 77, who lives in Millfield, was among the villagers on The Green on Wednesday morning after hearing about the fire from a friend.
Her son owns one of the homes that was destroyed and has been renting it out after four years of renovations.
She said: “It’s terrible, terrible.
“We read these things, but they are never on your doorstep. But now it is.’
And Marta and Mauricio Vieira shared how they were evacuated from their home across The Green at the time of the incident and were able to return home after 9pm on Tuesday.
“It was a sad scene,” they said.
“The police demolished all the houses around The Green and evacuated people.
“Everyone gathered in the community center and because of the smoke we were then told to go to Holm Hale.
“We were worried our house would catch on fire too because The Green is so dry.
Everyone is in shock.
United community
The Ashill community rallied after the devastation by setting up drop-off and collection points at the Call In and Ashill Community Centre.
The aftermath of a wildfire in Achill which also destroyed a number of homes. A small community center becomes a center for donations. – Credit: Sonya Duncan
Scenes from Ashill Community Center on Wednesday afternoon, hours after it opened for donations – Picture: Sarah Hussain
Within hours of opening Wednesday, both establishments were overflowing with donations of clothing, bedding, toiletries and food for those in need.
Enid Turner, a volunteer at Ashill Village Aid, said they opened the Call Inn from 9am on Wednesday to allow people to drop off items and those in need to collect them, with a “steady stream of people coming in”.
The aftermath of a wildfire in Achill which also destroyed a number of homes. A small community center has become a donation center, volunteer Enid Turner.. – Photo: Sonia Duncan
She said: “It’s just amazing, as Achill people always are.
“People leave clothes, toys and games.
“We have 20 volunteers in our group and additional people are coming in to help.”
The volunteer, who was born in the village, added that she had “never seen anything like this”.
Down the road at the community center, volunteers were arranging a hall full of donations.
Jennifer Collins, 23, said they had been collecting items since 9am on Wednesday and within a few hours the center was full. Donations include clothes, food and toys, with Tesco in Watton providing items and people coming from Sporle and Swaffham.
Jennifer Collins, who helps coordinate donation efforts in the village – Photo: Sarah Hussain
She said: “We have run out of tables.
“We have an amazing community and we’re going to get through this.
“People who have lost everything come in clearly distraught. They are so grateful for everything, even the toothpaste.
“Some have only what they were wearing.
“It is heartbreaking that the people in the village have been left with nothing.
She said the center would provide people with a place to sleep if needed.
Dee Bolton, a community center committee member, added: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity.”
Dee Bolton, Community Center Committee Member – Photo: Sarah Hussain
Support from Breckland Council
Sam Chapman-Allen, leader of Breckland Council, said the council would support the community in the coming days, with its housing team offering to work with those who have lost their homes to find temporary accommodation.
He said: “This is a real tragedy for Ashill and our thoughts are with the whole village but especially those who have unfortunately lost their homes.
Breckland’s leader, Sam Chapman-Allen – Credit: Archant
“Breckland staff and councilors were on site until the early hours of Wednesday morning to support the response and returned to the village throughout Wednesday to provide additional support.
“It was a heartbreaking event for the village, but once again we saw…
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