Roof fire near Pencombe (From Hereford Times)

Sunday morning 9.30am I was getting ready to go to church so I lit a fire in my nice inglenook fireplace to keep me warm while I washed and dressed. (I sleep and live in my ground floor front room due to mobility problems left from car crash injuries in 2009).

About 15 mins later I heard tiles falling from the roof. I went out to look and I saw flames coming out of the roof by the chimney cowel.

I phoned 999, then Mervyn Whites of Whites Roofing who is a neighbour, then Martin Thomas of Maidenhyde Farm who is a neighbour, then my carer Mrs Claire Muirhead from Little Cowarn. Despite it being Jubilee bank holiday they came immediately to help me.

First to arrive was Martin Thomas of Maidenhyde Farm who went upstairs to check the fire damage on the top floor, and to make sure me and my 2 dogs were safely out of the house.

Next to arrive was the fire brigade.

Next to arrive was my carer Mrs Muirhead.

Next to arrive was Mervyn White of Whites Roofing.

About five fire tricks arrived and about 12 fire fighters. It took about 3 or 4 hrs to put out the fire. It spread rapidly across the roof due to high winds.

I was not allowed in the house so I had to sit outside in my car in my pajamas, and put plastic bags over my feet because the grass was wet, and my carer wrapped the dogs towel around my shoulders as I was cold.

My carer’s husband Mr Paul Muirhead of MAS Bromyard (drain specialists) arrived with some flasks of tea and warm clothing for me. My carer sat with me all the time as I was in deep shock.

Charlotte Bouston was also present. She is Martin Thomas' step daughter. She sat with me and comforted me. Coincidentally, she was first on the scene and comforted me when I had my car crash in 2009.

All my neighbours came over to offer help and support.

The fire service left at 5pm (ish) and returned at 8pm with thermal imaging cameras to make sure the timbers were not smouldering. They turned off my electricity and water and oil and told me the house was uninhabitable. The entire roof and top floor was destroyed.

At 5pm (ish) a scafolder arrived and erected scaffolding and tarpaulined the roof because it started to rain. Because it was Jubilee weekend and bank holiday I was unable to get any emergency help from builders in the Yellow Pages.

It was only thanks to Mervyn White of Whites Roofing who pulled in favours from friends and colleagues and got them out of their pub celebrations to come and help me that I managed to get the roof tarpaulined over and made secure.

He also arranged for Dave Thomas of GP Thomas Builders to come Wednesday to inspect the damage and put a plan together.

This is the third disaster to happen to me. In 2009 I had a serious car crash. In 2010 my pipes burst and flooded my home in that bad -11 degree winter. Now in 2012 my house has caught fire. They say things happen in threes. So now I am hoping for good luck, like winning the lotto!

I want to thank Whites Roofing, GP Thomas, Maidenhyde Farm and my carer Mrs Claire Muirhead for giving up their Jubilee bank holiday to offer me their kind help and support.

My house is currently on Rightmove for sale at £625k. I had a few interested parties, but I doubt they will want to buy it now!! My agent is ChestertonHumberts in Hereford. I shall ask their advice on remarketing either at auction as fire damaged, or next year after the damage has been repaired.

Despite the above, I thank God for my blessings because at least I have a house to burn down. Many people are homeless and third world inhabitants live in tin shacks and on garbage dumps. So in the grand scale of things I am truly blessed.

From the Owner of burned building in Pencombe.

The clean-up of the fire debris at The Birches Farm. Hegdon Hill, Pencombe, will probably start on Thursday. So all hands to the pump please, and anyone passing who wants to join in and help with the clean-up please feel free to do so. Thank you :-)

Wednesday 6th June. Day 4 since the fire started. Mervyn White of Whites Roofing and GP Thomas builders turned up this morning to inspect the damage and make a foreward plan. The insurance company are looking to appoint a loss adjuster to come see me tomorrow. They told me to go to a hotel in the meantime as my house is deemed uninhabitable because the fire brigade turned off the electricity, oil and water, but my mobility problems make that too uncomfortable for me, so I am stopping at the burnt building and muddling through. My carer Mrs Claire Muirhead of Little Cowarn is working overtime to tend to my needs and help me cope. She is bringing me buckets of water and hot meals. Thank you Claire and Mervyn and GP Thomas for your prompt expert assistance. If any one is passing with a flask of hot soup (vegetarian) that would be most appreciated. :-) The Birches Farm. Hegdon Hill. (You can't miss it, it's the burnt building with the scaffolding up and tarpaulin roof).