Fire tears through three houses

12:33pm Thursday 22nd May 2008

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A "ferocious" fire ripped through three houses in Surbiton yesterday.

The blaze started in a garden in Lower Marsh Lane spread along a fence to neighbouring houses.

Approximately 40 fire fighters from Kingston Surbiton, and as far as Ealing, west London, were called to the fire at 2.39pm and brought it under control within two hours.

Fire crews were still on site at midnight last night to keep a close eye on it.

An investigation is still ongoing into how it started but it is not thought of as suspicious.

No one was injured and residents were able to leave the houses before the fire took hold.

Jane Philpott, Surbiton fire station manager, said: "It was a very quick developing fire, partly due to the very dry weather which enabled the fire to travel from the garden, along a shed and then to the houses."

One house was severely damaged, while the others were described as "fairly damaged."

She believed the houses did have a fire alarms, but claimed the fire was "so ferocious by the time we turned up, one of them was burnt off."

She reminded all residents to check they have a working fire alarm. For a free home fire safety inspection call 0800 284428.

Did you see the fire? Do you have a picture of it? Email kgrove@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 0208 3309550.