An aviary containing dozens of birds was among a number of outbuildings engulfed by flames in Cowes last night (Friday).
4 fire appliances from Newport, Cowes and Ryde were mobilised to Elm Grove at 21:30 when a blaze broke out in the garden of a residential property, as first reported by Island Echo.
The situation quickly escalated with the fire spreading to 2 neighbouring gardens.
Sadly, despite the efforts of firefighters to contain and extinguish the fire, an aviary fell victim to the flames. All of the birds within perished.
Several sheds and fence panels were destroyed too.
Firefighters used a main jet and 3 hose reels to put out the fire.
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that the suspected cause is an electrical fault.
It was a busy day for the Island’s fire crews yesterday with a number of incidents tackle, including a 100x100m wildfire in Sandown, a lineside fire at Ashey and a small kitchen fire in Newport.
[…] BIRDS PERISH IN GARDEN BLAZE CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL FAULT […]
I agree with the comments saying that birds should not be kept in cages but this was part of the avian rescue society on the island.
The scale of the aviaries should fall under local planning laws regarding noise.
When they had their rescue centre in a housing estate in Freshwater many complaints were made to the council about noise, smell and rodents.
It looks like they have moved into a busy housing area elsewhere but the new neighbours will now be affected.
Open space is needed for this type of rescue centre, not alongside houses. Can you imagine living next door to a spider and snake rescue centre? There would be no constant bird song or rats but you would soon move!
Come on island planners, get your act in gear and protect residents from noise, and fly high into heaven those poor perished birds.
Very sad news, poor innocent birds.
Birds do no one any harm, yet so many
persons dislike them.
During the War Pigeons done so much good.
R.I.P Flying Angel’s
The poor birds let’s hope they knew little pain