Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Pengegon, Camborne at 21/06/2012 17:57

The Fire Service received a call at 17.57 to a property in Pengegon in Camborne saying that smoke was issuing from the premises.

Two appliances were mobilised one from Camborne and one from Redruth including a Wholetime Officer.

On arrival the crews made the incident persons reported and also increased appliances to five pumps. Further appliances from Camborne, Penzance and Helston were mobilised as well as special appliances from St Just and Falmouth. Two additional Wholetime Officers also attended, which brought the total firefighters at the scene to forty-five.

The crews used six breathing apparatus two jets and one hosereel to tackle the fire within the property. All persons were accounted for at 1828. Police and Ambulance were also in attendance.

The fire has now been brought under control, although firefighting was made even more difficult and hazardous due to the quantity of materials stored in the home. This is all the information we have at present on this incident, which will be scaled down shortly.

Update 2100hrs. All appliances have now left the scene. Following a Fire Investigation, the cause of the fire has been confirmed as accidental.

Hoarding is a serious problem across the country and jeopardises not just the occupiers of the premises but neighbours and fire-fighters. The increased fire loading, the possibility of hidden fire travel, difficulties in access and egress present a significant risk.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is involved in the creation of a hoarding working group at present in an attempt to work with local housing providers and landlords to try and mitigate the potential risks by working with all parties including the tenant to try and educate and inform them of the dangers of hoarding and put any precautions in place to secure the safety of all concerned.

If anyone has any concerns about hoarding and the possible dangers to friends and family or would like assistance with this problem in any way please contact Cornwall Fire and Rescue service on 0800-3581-999