Residents risked fine tackling garden fire with hosepipe!

Residents in Ashby Avenue, Chessington chose to ignore the UK hosepipe ban when a fire broke out in a garden.

Firefighters were called to the scene but as the fire was spreading quickly, the occupants decided to tackle the fire themselves using hosepipes.

Keith Banks  who witnessed the incident said:  “The fence was on fire so we had to use the hosepipe even though the ban comes in today. I am sure we will be ok and won’t get fined for putting out a fire.”

Fiona Walls who also witnessed the incident said:  “It was right up there. There were plumes of black smoke. It was huge. I heard it was a bonfire they were having in the back. It was very scary at first but the firefighters came quickly.”

A spokesperson for London Fire Brigade said: “Two fire engines attended the scene on Ashby Avenue today at 4pm. The ground floor and some part of the first floor and an area external decking was on fire been have now been extinguished. The cause of the fire is not yet known. The fire has since been put out by crews from Surbiton and Hayes, with no injuries reported.”

Let’s hope these quick thinking folk don’t get fined £1000 for breaking the ban!