Blaze at former officers' care home

Thursday, 26 July 2012

Firefighters in action at the blaze at the former officers' home.

by John Balment

FIREFIGHTERS from Teignmouth, Newton Abbot and Torquay were this afternoon (JULY 26) fighting a blaze in the roof of a barn at the rear of a former residential home in Bishopsteignton.

Four pumps, three jets and hose reels were being used to tackle the fire behind Huntly, which was run by the Officers’ Association for retired Armed Forces Officers and their dependants.

Firefighters were also removing roof tiles to give them better access to the fire.

They warned that fumes from the blaze could be toxic and police told nearby residents to keep windows and doors closed.

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said the roof of the building was well alight.

Firefighters were called at 12.37pm, the two crews from Teignmouth who were first on the scene, immediately requesting back-up.

The two-storey building is currently being used as garaging and stores.

Huntly itself, which was a residential home for more than 60 years, stands in its own grounds and closed last year.

Numbers of residents had dwindled to 13, who were moved, while 21 staff were made redundant. The home was closed after the charity was forced to throw in the towel on multi-million pound development plans for the site.

An application was put into Teignbridge Council to build a 52 bed care home and 21 extra-care flats by converting Huntly along with an existing bungalow. It was withdrawn after strong objections and the charity made it clear that without planning permission the home’s future could not be assured.

Email: johnbalment@tindlenews.co.uk

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