UPDATED WITH VIDEO: Firefighters are this afternoon (Thursday) tackling a bungalow blaze in St Helen’s after the property was struck by lightning.
Three pumping appliances, an aerial ladder platform and the Incident Command Unit are all on scene at Lower Green Road in a bid to tackle the fire, that has so far destroyed the roof of the bungalow.
The same bungalow caught fire but was saved at the start of April.
Plumes of smoke are rising and spreading across the village with a cordon in place surrounding the fire ground. Loud bangs can be heard. Nearby properties and businesses have been evacuated.
One witness described hearing a loud bang as the lightning bolt struck the roof of the single story detached property.
UPDATE @ 14:32 – Firefighters from Ryde, Newport and Shanklin are now in attendance alongside paramedics from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service. Southern Electric engineers are also on the scene to provide assistance in making the property safe.
Attempts are being made to move a car from the front of the bungalow to minimise the risk of the blaze spreading.
UPDATE @ 15:02 – Nearly two hours after the incident started, firefighters continue to fight to extinguish the fire.
The British Red Cross Fire Support Unit is at St Helen’s to support the occupant of the property, who is believed to be a young male.
The Isle of Wight Council Environmental Health are also present.
UPDATE @ 15:22 – Firefighters have removed the tiles from the remaining areas of the roof and have brought the fire under control.
An eye witness has told Island Echo how a big purple flash of light came out of no where, striking the top of the property which then instantly caught alight and within minutes was fully ablaze.
Fire crews are now damping down the charred remains of the bungalow before assessing the overall damage.
It was initially reported by the IWFRS that St Helen’s Service Station was the location of the fire, due to incorrect information supplied. We can confirm the garage and staff are unaffected by the fire, however have been evacuated.
