UPDATED: Firefighters are this afternoon (Tuesday) tackling a blaze in Ryde that has destroyed the roof of a three-storey property.
Crews are currently in attendance at Simeon Street at the junction with Monkton Street, where flames are shooting from the roof of the property with plumes of smoke sweeping across nearby rooftops.
An aerial appliance is in attendance alongside three pumping appliances from Ryde and Newport as well as the Incident Command Unit.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus have entered the property to tackle the flames from inside.
UPDATE @ 15:20 – A fourth appliance from East Cowes has arrived at the incident with a further 4 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus being sent into the burning building.
Ash continues to rain down on the area with Police now closing the surrounding roads.
UPDATE @ 15:32 – The fire has spread to adjoining properties with masonry falling to the street below.
The erial appliance is being put into action.
UPDATE @ 15:44 – Another pumping appliance has arrived at the scene, totalling five.
Locals are being warned to stay clear of the area due to the toxic smoke.
UPDATE @ 16:03 – COBRA is being used by the aerial crew to penetrate through the building. The fire has largely been brought under control however firefighters continue to battle the blaze.
UPDATE @ 16:30 – The fire has been brought under control with a total of at least two properties severely damaged and smoke going through to a third. Smoke is still rising from the property, however, with streets closed for public safety.
No one is believed to have been injured in the incident.
Several support vehicles are on the scene including workshop engineers, alongside paramedics and officers from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service.
UPDATE @ 16:56 – A resident of one of the worst effected properties has told Island Echo how she heard an angle grinder being used in the adjoining property before the fire started. She has said the fire took hold very quickly.
The blaze is understood to have begun in a flat above the former Post Office, a property under going a refurbishment, before spreading along the rooftops, which has now completed destroyed Emma’s bedrooms and roof and other rooftops.
Workmen at the property attempted to extinguish the fire but it took hold quickly.
Electric and Gas engineers are present at the incident alongside the Isle of Wight Council and the British Red Cross Emergency and Fire Support vehicle.
UPDATE @ 18:45 – A second aerial appliance is now assisting the firefighting efforts. The blaze is under control however crews remain at the scene damping down.
Roads surrounding the fire ground remain closed.
UPDATE @ 20:59 – Firefighters remain at the scene tonight, more than 6 hours after first responding to the incident.
For all the latest on today’s incident visit https://www.islandecho.co.uk/news/two-properties-severely-damaged-terrace-fire.
