Late on Friday night, July 17, eight fire engines were dispatched to tackle a house fire on Oake Close in the village of Oake, near Taunton, Somerset. The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service quickly escalated their response to include specialist vehicles due to the severity of the incident.
A spokesperson for the fire service confirmed the large-scale response: “Upon arrival, the incident commander requested an additional five fire engines, along with an aerial ladder platform and a water bowser, to effectively manage the fire.”
Currently, firefighters are utilizing four hose reel jets, two main jets, and breathing apparatus to control and extinguish the blaze. Authorities have advised local residents to avoid the area and to keep all windows and doors closed for safety.