WITH the weather getting colder, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service has warned residents in the area with thatched roofs to ensure their roof is safe for winter.

The fire service has asked owners of thatched properties to take measures to reduce the chance of an emergency relating to fire occuring.

Fire in a thatched roof is difficult to detect and almost impossible to control once it has taken hold. Thatch fires spread rapidly, and are often devastating to the entire property they affect, with the amount of water needed to stop a fire leading to structural damage to the rest of the property.

Many thatch fires are chimney-related. House owners are being asked to ensure that the chimneys in their property can cope with the heat generated by modern heaters and fireplaces.

Modern enclosed solid fuel appliances and wood burning stoves are designed to burn efficiently and create a lot of heat.

Old chimney flues present in older cottages often only have a comparatively thin layer of brickwork in the flue. The heat absorbed by the brickwork can pass through to the thatch, leaving roofs especially vulnerable to the risk of heat build-up and combustion between the brick and thatch.

Chimneys also need to be dirt-free to allow the free passage of dangerous combustion gasses, so regular cleaning will remove soot and creosote, and help prevent such fires.

Oil, gas and smokeless coal users need their chimney swept annually, with bituminous coal users needing their swept biannually, and wood burners up to four times a year.

If in doubt over the safety of their chimneys, homeowners are advised to avoid using any chimney-related appliance until they have had their flue fully inspected.