BRIGHSTONE HOME DESTROYED BY EARLY HOURS BLAZE – INVESTIGATIONS INTO CAUSE UNDERWAY

Investigations are underway to establish how a large fire tore through a property in Brighstone in the early hours of this morning (Tuesday)  As first reported by Island Echo, crews from Newport, Freshwater, Yarmouth, Cowes and Shanklin – as well as the Incident Command Unit and Aerial Ladder Platform – were called to the scene on Gaggerhill Lane at just before 02:00. Firefighters used hose reel jets to extinguish the blaze which quickly engulfed the detached property. Luckily the fire didn’t spread to any of the neighbouring dwellings thanks to the work of firefighters. Residents of nearby properties were evacuated as a precaution, no confirmation has been made as to whether the occupant(s) of the house have yet been accounted for. A single crew from Ventnor was on scene this morning damping down, as daylight showed the extent of the fire which has completely ravaged the roof and some of the exterior walls of the Grade II Listed dwelling. Hunny Hill/B3399 is currently blocked from the junction with Main Road and Chilton Lane, with Police at the scene enforcing the closure. It is unclear when the road will reopen once again. Urban Search and Rescue Crews (USAR) have been called to the scene with assessments of the properties structural integrity being undertaken ahead of more thorough investigations. The investigation to establish just how the fire started is underway, with further update expected in the coming days.