One person ‘unaccounted for’ after fire at house near Chard

The emergency services were called to the property at Windwhistle, Cricket St Thomas, on the morning of Sunday, November 27.

The house remains unsafe to enter after the roof and most of the first floor collapsed. 

Family members of the unaccounted for person are being supported by police family liaison officers.

Four fire engines were called to the scene early on Sunday morning, when firefighters found the two-storey property “fully involved in fire”.

They fought the fire from outside the building because of the structure's “unsafe stability” using a water carrier and water from an open source.

One fire crew remained at the scene overnight and this morning to dampen it down and manage hotspots. Police were also in attendance.

Police are investigating after the fire service was called to the property. (Image: Newsquest)

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “Police are investigating after the fire service was called to a house fire at Windwhistle, Cricket St Thomas, near Chard at about 5.30am on Sunday, November 27.

“Fire crews remain at the scene and are assessing the cause of the fire - which we believe to be an isolated incident.

“The family are being supported by specially-trained family liaison officers as one person from the household remains unaccounted for.

“Enquiries continue regarding the individual’s whereabouts.

“The building has suffered significant damage and cannot be searched until it is made safe.

“If you have any information which could help the police investigation, please call 101 and give the reference 5222284394.”

Read more: Firefighters sent to scene of ‘fully ablaze’ property near Chard

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 5:42am on Sunday, November 27 to an incident near Chard.

“We sent three hazard area response team units, an operation officer and a double-crewed land ambulance.”

Daniel Dicker, a lead technician and trained fire warden at Lubborn Creamery, saw the fire as he left work at around 4.50am. 

He ran into a hotel in Cricket St Thomas to raise the alarm and asked a member of staff to contact the emergency services.

He said: “I had just finished work at Lubborn Creamery when I spotted the fire and originally believed it was part of the Cricket St Thomas (hotel) buildings.

“I then realised it was a building behind, so I ran into the main reception and asked them to call the fire brigade and police.”

He said the building was “fully ablaze” and some of its roof tiles were falling down by the time the fire service arrived.