Fire damages roof of family home as daughter raises alarm

By dblackmore

A family is counting the cost of damage after a blaze ripped through the roof of their home.

Jacky and Philip Davies returned from work to find their detached house in Mickleham Drive, Leatherhead, ablaze on Tuesday night.

Firefighters from across East Surrey tackled the fire which started shortly after 5pm and swept through the attic and bedroom.

Crews from Dorking and Leatherhead tackled the flames for two hours before the fire was brought under control.

Dorking Fire Station manager Darren Cripps said: "When we turned up there was a lot of smoke coming out of the rear and out of the front.

"We had people working a level platform from the rear and off a ladder at the front with crews working inside. We managed to save the house. We did well really."

Mr and Mrs Davies praised firefighters' efforts and the quick thinking of their daughter, Helen, who raised the alarm and fled the building with the family's two dogs.

But the fire destroyed a large chunk of the attic, which houses a bedroom.

Mr Davies said: "The corridor is horrific. The whole of the attic is completely destroyed and most of the roof is destroyed. All the wood is just charred and burnt."