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Fire rips through forest pub
FIRE blazed through the straw roof of the historic thatched Woolpack pub at Sopley yesterday afternoon.
Bar staff and a handful of customers fought valiantly to control the flames using a garden hose reel and the pub's full complement of 10 fire extinguishers until firefighters arrived at the scene.
Member of staff Dee Liberty said: "None of the smoke detectors went off in the loft space. A passing driver came in and told us it was on fire."
Barmaid Vicky Hilling said: "The first thing was to call the bosses who were upstairs in the flat."
And she added: "Staff have been very good. They are coming in in their scruffy clothes to help clear up."
Neither of the young women thought the pub was likely to open in the immediate future.
The owners of the pub, sisters Di and Jo Hankins were too busy to talk to the press.
However, their father Chris Hankins, who lives in the village and helps out at the premises said: "It's just as well it didn't happen in the middle of the night; somebody saw it and got the fire engines here.
"I'm just relieved they came when they did and saved the building. It's only the thatch and a bit of water damage."
Moray Hicks lives opposite the pub, which is thought to date from 1725.
"It's sad. We're looking at an historical building. It's going to have to have a new roof completely. It's going to be a lot of money," he predicted.
Firefighters from Christchurch, Ringwood, Lyndhurst, Burley, Lymington, New Milton, Beaulieu and Springbourne attended the blaze after the alarm was raised at 4.17pm.
The fire centred on a brick chimney stack on the thatched roof. A woodburner stove had been burning downstairs in the bar during the day, though staff are mystified about how the blaze began, because the woodburner chimney pot had a spark cowl fitted.
The fire teams worked hard removing the burning thatch and creating a firebreak in an attempt to stop the flames spreading.
Water and then foam was sprayed onto the roof from the road while firefighters working on the roof forced foam directly into the thatch in an attempt to stop oxygen feeding the flames.
Meanwhile firefighters rescued credit cards and other valuables from the building
The worst of the fire was under control by 5.30pm.
Police closed the normally busy B3347 road while the firefighters dealt with the incident.
7:05am Friday 28th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: mayus karia, Southampton on 5:22pm Thu 27 Mar 08
At least this fire should ensure the food is cooked properly, last time i ate here it was shocking.
At least this fire should ensure the food is cooked properly, last time i ate here it was shocking.
Posted by: Fred on 7:24am Fri 28 Mar 08
"None of the smoke detectors went off in the loft space"
Oh dear - what are the insurers going to do?
"None of the smoke detectors went off in the loft space"
Oh dear - what are the insurers going to do?
Posted by: Denzil, work on 7:59am Fri 28 Mar 08
*firemen in real work shocker*
*firemen in real work shocker*
Posted by: gutted, Hampshire on 8:41am Fri 28 Mar 08
Denzil what a pratt you are, the etiquette of this site prevents me from telling you what I really think of you! As a serving officer with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service with 17 years service I have seen numerous colleagues injured (some seriously) risking their lives to save others and one occasion a colleague was fatally injured but the 3 year old boy that he carried out of a blazing building survived! (And yes I have also been twice seriously injured before you say it!!)
I bet if you are ever in danger from fire or one of the other many life threatening dangers we face on a daily basis, the first people you would call would be us!
You pathetic hypercrit!
Denzil what a pratt you are, the etiquette of this site prevents me from telling you what I really think of you! As a serving officer with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service with 17 years service I have seen numerous colleagues injured (some seriously) risking their lives to save others and one occasion a colleague was fatally injured but the 3 year old boy that he carried out of a blazing building survived! (And yes I have also been twice seriously injured before you say it!!)
I bet if you are ever in danger from fire or one of the other many life threatening dangers we face on a daily basis, the first people you would call would be us!
You pathetic hypercrit!
Posted by: jesus, Palestine on 8:50am Fri 28 Mar 08
Gutted, if you were on here a bit more often, you would know that Denzil is famed for his less than subtle comments on every topic. Don't take it to heart, its just to cause a reaction, which he's now got.
Everyone respects the fire service (apart from when they strike)
Gutted, if you were on here a bit more often, you would know that Denzil is famed for his less than subtle comments on every topic. Don't take it to heart, its just to cause a reaction, which he's now got.
Everyone respects the fire service (apart from when they strike)
Posted by: Fire fighter, Hampshire on 8:56am Fri 28 Mar 08
What a prat denzil is. I was at the fire and 'real work' is nothing compared to what we had to do. The roof had more than 3 tonns of thatch which all had to be removed by hand before the whole building went up in flames. As you add water it just gets heavier and heavier. We saved the building and it's contents. What did Densil save today? A file on his computer?
What a prat denzil is. I was at the fire and 'real work' is nothing compared to what we had to do. The roof had more than 3 tonns of thatch which all had to be removed by hand before the whole building went up in flames. As you add water it just gets heavier and heavier. We saved the building and it's contents. What did Densil save today? A file on his computer?
Posted by: =), here on 9:22am Fri 28 Mar 08
It's a real shame there was a fire there, I loved the kangaroo casserole.
However, well done to the firemen =)
It's a real shame there was a fire there, I loved the kangaroo casserole.
However, well done to the firemen =)
Posted by: Christoff on 9:24am Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]jesus[/bold] wrote:
Gutted, if you were on here a bit more often, you would know that Denzil is famed for his less than subtle comments on every topic. Don't take it to heart, its just to cause a reaction, which he's now got. Everyone respects the fire service (apart from when they strike)[/quote] and he is predictable, I bet it won't be long before he insults Sailor Sam with the usual 'dirty skate remark' or something similar. As long as you don't take him seriously he is harmless. Trouble is the posters who are not used to him get upset which only feeds him.
Some of his comments are amusing, some are outrageous but it's a free country.
jesus wrote:
Gutted, if you were on here a bit more often, you would know that Denzil is famed for his less than subtle comments on every topic. Don't take it to heart, its just to cause a reaction, which he's now got. Everyone respects the fire service (apart from when they strike)
and he is predictable, I bet it won't be long before he insults Sailor Sam with the usual 'dirty skate remark' or something similar. As long as you don't take him seriously he is harmless. Trouble is the posters who are not used to him get upset which only feeds him.
Some of his comments are amusing, some are outrageous but it's a free country.
Posted by: CyberWarrior, soton on 11:14am Fri 28 Mar 08
Please don't feed the Denzil Troll. He is not worth your time or effort, as none of the Trolls on here are. The majority of right-minded, intelligent people have the utmost respect, gratitude and admiration for the Emergency Services. The pond life will only ever appreciate what you do when their shell-suits or chip-pans catch fire and you are needed to put them out.
Please don't feed the Denzil Troll. He is not worth your time or effort, as none of the Trolls on here are. The majority of right-minded, intelligent people have the utmost respect, gratitude and admiration for the Emergency Services. The pond life will only ever appreciate what you do when their shell-suits or chip-pans catch fire and you are needed to put them out.
Posted by: Ken, Christchurch on 1:15pm Fri 28 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Denzil[/bold] wrote:
*firemen in real work shocker*[/quote] Hang on Denzil's got a point on this occassion. Wasn't it the firemen who 3 or 4 years after Sep 11th decided that they should go for a 30% pay rise, in the hope that the public would be sympathetic to their cause? In the mean time soldiers and sailors were coming back from proper fighting in Iraq,
(with a few weeks back home before being redeployed to Iraq or Afghanistan,and having been given a 3% pay rise by the government), had to cancel their homecoming leave to do the firemen's work for them whilst they were on strike. The armed forces had never been so bored, I mean, there's only so much moonlighting, darts and pool that a real man can do.
Denzil wrote:
*firemen in real work shocker*
Hang on Denzil's got a point on this occassion. Wasn't it the firemen who 3 or 4 years after Sep 11th decided that they should go for a 30% pay rise, in the hope that the public would be sympathetic to their cause? In the mean time soldiers and sailors were coming back from proper fighting in Iraq,
(with a few weeks back home before being redeployed to Iraq or Afghanistan,and having been given a 3% pay rise by the government), had to cancel their homecoming leave to do the firemen's work for them whilst they were on strike. The armed forces had never been so bored, I mean, there's only so much moonlighting, darts and pool that a real man can do.
Posted by: Crazy Horse, Hants on 3:01pm Fri 28 Mar 08
No one can deny that the fire service are a wonderful bunch of people, same league as RNLI, ambulance, RSPCA and even dare I say it the police. Although, as I understand it many of them join up because girlies like to see them in their uniforms and bill and coo. This is not to knock their good works though. When I were a lad firemen or firefighters as they now like to be known were a largely voluntary service. Now they want £50K and a slot on London's burning. Who was the Arthur Scargill of the fireservice? Militant g*t.
No one can deny that the fire service are a wonderful bunch of people, same league as RNLI, ambulance, RSPCA and even dare I say it the police. Although, as I understand it many of them join up because girlies like to see them in their uniforms and bill and coo. This is not to knock their good works though. When I were a lad firemen or firefighters as they now like to be known were a largely voluntary service. Now they want £50K and a slot on London's burning. Who was the Arthur Scargill of the fireservice? Militant g*t.
Posted by: Emily, College on 3:09pm Fri 28 Mar 08
*firemen in real work shocker* At least they do work, you always seam to be on here, Idiot! Just before you say anything, i am suppose to be on here doing college work!! Get a life love!
*firemen in real work shocker* At least they do work, you always seam to be on here, Idiot! Just before you say anything, i am suppose to be on here doing college work!! Get a life love!
Posted by: emily, college on 3:11pm Fri 28 Mar 08
ABOVE COMMENT IS AIMED AT
DENZIL
much love xxx
ABOVE COMMENT IS AIMED AT
DENZIL
much love xxx
Posted by: im a, flower on 3:29pm Fri 28 Mar 08
I thought the Woolpack was in the Dales!
I thought the Woolpack was in the Dales!
Posted by: a.m.taylor, vancouver b.c. on 4:19pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Sad---but at at least the happy smokers can't be blamed for this any more.
Sad---but at at least the happy smokers can't be blamed for this any more.
Posted by: bob, t'internet on 5:23pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Yes Denzils' comments are designed to cause a debate, they are sometimes out of place, however, they do provide a blo**y good read of the following argument and sometimes they are actually quite funny - however I don't endorse comments thoughts or views expressed by Denzil
Yes Denzils' comments are designed to cause a debate, they are sometimes out of place, however, they do provide a blo**y good read of the following argument and sometimes they are actually quite funny - however I don't endorse comments thoughts or views expressed by Denzil
Posted by: i know best, dorset on 5:42pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Its such a shame i hope it does not affect the filming of emerdale does any one now if any of the cast were in the building.
Its such a shame i hope it does not affect the filming of emerdale does any one now if any of the cast were in the building.
Posted by: The Flump, UK on 2:18pm Sat 29 Mar 08
[quote][bold]mayus karia[/bold] wrote:
At least this fire should ensure the food is cooked properly, last time i ate here it was shocking.[/quote] What an obnoxious,spitefull imbecile you are,are you even old enough to go in a pub?You post like a petulant 12 year old,or was your visit on a day release from whatever institution is treating your mental health problems?
mayus karia wrote:
At least this fire should ensure the food is cooked properly, last time i ate here it was shocking.
What an obnoxious,spitefull imbecile you are,are you even old enough to go in a pub?You post like a petulant 12 year old,or was your visit on a day release from whatever institution is treating your mental health problems?
Posted by: di, sopley on 3:16pm Thu 3 Apr 08
i was there watching the fire. The fire brigade was amazing risking there lives going into a blazing building to rescue peoples valuables for them i know the people at the woolpack will be eternally grateful. Denzil hope you need them one day.[bold][italic]bold[/italic] [quote][bold]quote[/bold] [/quote] [/bold]
i was there watching the fire. The fire brigade was amazing risking there lives going into a blazing building to rescue peoples valuables for them i know the people at the woolpack will be eternally grateful. Denzil hope you need them one day.
bold quote
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