UPDATED: Homes evacuated after house fire (From Warrington Guardian)

Blaze threatened whole street in Fairfield

10:21am Wednesday 16th November 2011 in Video News

THIRTEEN homes were evacuated last night in Fairfield after a house fire threatened to engulf the street.

Residents waited outside for more than three hours while Cheshire Fire crews battled the blaze on Algernon Street.

A house at the end of the road was on fire when they arrived at 7.35pm.

Heat from the fire had begun to damage the attics of neighbours when firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and using two hose reels managed to quell the flames.

Crews remained at the scene throughout the night while utility companies isolated supplies.

Watch Manager, Frank Williamson, said: "When we arrived we were confronted with a significant fire in an end terrace property.

"Flames could be seen coming through the window and roof of the home.

"The fire was also beginning to spread through the roof space to the two neighbouring houses.

"We ensured that all the nearby properties had been evacuated as we began fighting the fire.

"We tackled the fire with jets of water on ground level. We also used the hydraulic platform to spray water on the fire from above.

"The firefighters involved in this incident did a great job in containing this fire, if it was not for their actions and professionalism more homes could have been lost in this incident.”

No one was in the property at the time of the fire, according to Cheshire Fire.

The cause is currently under investigation.

For eye witness accounts and photographs see tomorrow's issue.