Fire Crews Tackle Large Thatched Cottage Blaze in Hinton

Firefighters from across Hampshire and Dorset spent much of the night tackling a large blaze at a thatched cottage in Hinton.

Crews were called to the property on Lyndhurst Road (A35) shortly before 9pm on Monday evening after reports of smoke and flames coming from the roof of a detached thatched home.

When firefighters arrived, the cottage was already well alight. Fortunately, no one was inside the property at the time of the fire. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.

At the height of the incident, ten fire engines were on scene, along with an aerial ladder platform used to spray water from above onto the burning roof. Crews from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) and Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) worked together, using breathing apparatus, main jets, and hose reels to bring the fire under control.

Residents were advised to keep doors and windows closed due to heavy smoke in the area and to avoid the A35 between Ringwood Road and Dark Lane to allow emergency vehicles access.

By 11:30pm, fire crews had begun to scale down the response, with five fire engines remaining to continue damping down hotspots. The final crews left the scene around 5am this morning after confirming the fire was fully extinguished.

Fire investigation officers have returned to the property this morning (28 October) to establish the cause of the blaze.

This was a significant thatch fire requiring resources from both Hampshire and Dorset to bring under control. Thankfully, no one was inside the property, and crews worked through the night to prevent the fire from spreading.

Residents of thatched properties are being encouraged to review fire safety advice for thatched homes, which includes regular chimney maintenance and installing smoke detection systems.