REPORT ON THE FIRE AT THE DUNLOW ESTATE
At 04:35 hrs on Sunday 15 October the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service responded to and extinguished a structural fire at Dunlow Manor in the New Forest. Local police units were also in attendance.
The senior fire officer was informed by the senior police officer present that arson was considered a possibility. A request was made for a full Forensic Fire Service examination.
We evaluated the scene on the ground floor from exterior to interior, then from least damaged to most damaged areas. We worked first to establish the area of origin, then worked to determine with a reasonable degree of professional certainty the cause of the fire.
The heaviest fire activity was observed around the open fireplace in the living room, which was the most damaged area. A carpet adjacent to the fireplace provided combustible material needed to accelerate the fire. Burn marks on the wooden wall fittings indicated the fire took hold swiftly and reached high temperatures.
The fire then tracked to adjacent rooms on the ground floor. The majority of significant damage was caused to walls and ceilings above waist height, with several windows also broken by the sudden heat.
Cigarette butts were retrieved from the scene but there is no evidence they were dropped while lit or that they caused the fire. There were no cigarette butts found inside the property.
Due to the speed and nature of the fire much damage was caused, which will result in a need for a near total refurbishment. It was noted that one of the reasons for the speed and ferocity of the fire was the availability of combustible materials and non-fireproofed furniture. I recommend the owners receive Fire Prevention Advice when considering repair and refurbishment of the building.
This fire was determined to be accidental in nature and is now administratively closed.
REPORT COMPILED BY: Forensic Fire Brigade Officer Matt Lam.