Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Talland Hill, Polperro, near Looe at 13/11/2011 15:35

At 1535hrs this afternoon, Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service received a 999 call reporting a property fire with a person trapped inside. Fire crews from Looe and Polruan were immediately mobilised and these were backed up with a fire crew from Lostwithiel, when a further 999 call indicated that the fire was spreading rapidly. Whilst the fire crews were still en-route, neighbours were frantically trying to get to the person inside but she managed to get herself to safety through a smoke-filled room .

The firefighters were confronted with a well developed fire on the ground floor of a three-storey property divided into flats, measuring 15 metres by 10 metres, and, although one occupant had escaped, they were not sure if anyone else was in the building. Further assistance was requested and fire crews from Liskeard, Bodmin and Lostwithiel were sent to the scene, along with operational support from St Austell and command support from Truro.

Access to the property was difficult, due to the narrow lanes in this picturesque Cornish fishing village, but the fire crews have a well-rehearsed plan for dealing with fires at this location. Hose and other equipment was carried by hand from at least 100 metres away and good use was made of a special vehicle stationed at Looe Fire Station, which was brought to the incident on a trailer and designed for areas like Polperro with limited access.

The fire was fought by a total of fifty firefighters using two jets, thermal imaging cameras and eight sets of breathing apparatus. A thorough search of the building revealed that there were no further casualties inside. The lady occupant suffered smoke inhalation and was conveyed to hospital by ambulance. A neighbour suffered slight smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene by paramedics. There is no further information on their condition.

The Incident Commander, Station Manager Richard Gibbons based at Bodmin Fire Station, said that the “firefighters worked extremely hard to limit the fire spreading to the upper floors. Although there is severe damage to the ground floor, the upper floors have mainly suffered only smoke damage”. He added that “the lady was very lucky to have escaped”.

Firefighters remained damping down into the evening, with the last crew leaving the scene at 2000hrs. An investigation will continue into the cause of the fire, although it is thought to have started accidentally.