Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with the Thatched Owners Group are holding several home owners Thatched safety seminars in the local area of Braintree and Uttlesford . The Thatched Owners Group is the largest organisation in the United Kingdom that helps owners of Thatched properties and is at the forefront of fire safety in the home.

Although fires in a thatch roof are not common, over 90% start as a result of a faulty flue or chimney. The thatch is designed to repel water and so for the Fire Service this makes it a difficult task to extinguish such fires.

The road shows will be held at;

 Braintree Fire Station on 8th June,

Newport  Fire Station on 15th June,

Sible Hedingham Fire Station on 22nd June

 Leaden Roding Fire Station on 6th July,

Wethersfield fire Station 20th July

All will start at approx 1930-2100

They will have a range of experts from chimney specialists to surveyors, structural engineers to Thatcher’s and also Essex Fire Service.

They are inviting anyone who lives in a Thatched property or anyone who is interested on the subject to come along to their road show where expert help and advice will be available.