Fire chief tells how crews battled with inferno
The fire chief who led the operation at Osbaston House spoke today of the intense battle firefighters waged to bring the inferno under control. The fire chief who led the operation at Osbaston House spoke today of the intense battle firefighters waged to bring the inferno under control. Area manager Martin Timmis, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service head of operation response, said the blaze was already so intense by the time firefighters arrived that there was no chance anyone could go inside. "The first thing crews noticed was there was a considerable fire at the end of the drive and we had a number of calls, so it was quite clear to anybody it was quite a severe fire," he said. "When crews got to Osbaston House, the gates were closed and there was a vehicle that blocked access for a while. Crews had to spend time removing this vehicle, while others went on foot down the drive." He said the main part of the house was fully engulfed in flames, as was the garage block, stable block and other outbuildings. For exclusive photos of the house ablaze, see today's Shropshire Star See also: Close up view shows scale of tragedy Police say Foster killed family First look at Foster tragedy home Third body removed from mansion Local reaction to Foster tragedy Accelerant used in Foster blaze Timeline for mansion tragedy Wife's body found at arson house Computers recovered from house Did pressure cause millionaire to 'flip'? Kirstie 'on net' before blaze Businessman 'risked losing £1m home' Forensics team's grim search Latest search pictures Inside Osbaston Hall before the blaze Scene of the mansion blaze
The fire chief who led the operation at Osbaston House spoke today of the intense battle firefighters waged to bring the inferno under control.
Area manager Martin Timmis, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service head of operation response, said the blaze was already so intense by the time firefighters arrived that there was no chance anyone could go inside.
"The first thing crews noticed was there was a considerable fire at the end of the drive and we had a number of calls, so it was quite clear to anybody it was quite a severe fire," he said.
"When crews got to Osbaston House, the gates were closed and there was a vehicle that blocked access for a while. Crews had to spend time removing this vehicle, while others went on foot down the drive."
He said the main part of the house was fully engulfed in flames, as was the garage block, stable block and other outbuildings.Mr Timmis said: "The first thing crews had to do was risk-assess the situation, just to determine what they would be most effective in doing. They had to consider there may be people inside."
He said the fire was so well developed by the time crews got there it was already through the roof, which was on the verge of collapse, and there was "no sign of life".
"It was impossible because of the heat to get into the main building," he said.
"They spent time trying to get water on the fire in the main building as best they could and to stop it spreading to other parts of the annexe, and to put out the fire in the garage and stable."
At its height, 11 appliances from fire stations across Shropshire and Mid Wales were in attendance, as well as three specialist units and the incident commander.
Mr Timmis said: "We had to bring in additional resources. There were 45 to 50 firefighters at any one time. We also had the aerial ladder platform in attendance and pumping units to get water from a variety of sources.
"They didn't leave the site until Friday because of the small pockets of fire, because of the sheer magnitude of the fire. It was extinguished by the following morning, the Wednesday, so 24 hours."
Mr Timmis said the horse box blocking the entrance held them up by only a couple of minutes
"It did delay us slightly because they couldn't get the pumps up, but they could get people through and were getting things in place," he said.
"The most harrowing thing for our crews was there was a fire and the possibility of people inside, but because of the extent of the fire there was nothing they could do.
"They had to try and detach themselves from that and carry out their firefighting roles as best they could."
Read the full story in the Shropshire Star
See also: Close up view shows scale of tragedy
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Accelerant used in Foster blaze
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Computers recovered from house
Did pressure cause millionaire to 'flip'?
Businessman 'risked losing £1m home'