16 fire crews at scene of Low Street, Bardwell, blaze in five homes

Sixteen fire crews were at the scene of a blaze affecting five homes.

The fire service was called to the incident in Low Street, Bardwell, at 4.43pm.

The five properties are adjoined and have thatched roofs.

Teams from Princes Street, Beccles, Needham Market, Sudbury, Long Melford, Wickhambrook, Bury St Edmunds, Elmswell and Ixworth were fighting the fire.

Lee Wilkins, incident commander for the Low Street fire, said the SFRS control room received multiple calls about the incident.

“I am pleased to say that all occupants have been able to escape to safety which meant that fire crews could attack the fire from the front and the rear and try and get the fire under control as quickly as possible,” he said.

“Unfortunately, there has been extensive damage to the property, but all occupants are safe and some domestic pets have been rescued in the process.

“We will be on the scene througout the evening damping down and making the area safe.”

Commander Wilkins added there had been some water mains issues throughout the area during the incident, and the service was working with Anglian Water to solve these.

It has also liaised with UK Power Networks as firefighters had to isolate power to the area, but this was being re-established to properties not affected by the fire.

There is also some assistance from Norfolk Fire and Rescue.

Police were on the scene to aid traffic management.

Firefighters were using hose reel jets and breathing equipment to battle the blaze.

The public were advised to avoid the area.

The incident was under control by 11.47pm. Crews remained on scene overnight for hot-spotting.