Major fire/incident this morning in Underhill Rd/Melford Rd

[IlonaM]

I have seen at least four fire engines, several police cars and ambulance racing up Underhill from the S Circular towards the cemetery in the last 20 minutes or so. I can smell smoke over my garden between Underhill & Wood Vale. Looks like an ongoing major incident. .

Incident appears to be at/near junction with Melford Rd. Update: property on Melford Rd (towards Underhill end)

Bottom of Underhill (Horniman end) closed to traffice - police blocking entry & exit. Presume road closed above incident as well - Underhill Rd juction with Melford down has emergency vehicles parked.

[sunbob]

Yesterday there were 2 fire engines pumping water into Harris Boy's for approx 3 hours. There was only a light smell of smoke and no visible flames though.

[Cyclemonkey]

Everything is tinder dry at the moment so I hope people are taking extra care with discarded cigarettes and BBQs.

[Peachpie]

According to my delivery driver -'apparently a bus was on fire'. Seems to have gone quiet now.

[IlonaM]

Peachpie Wrote:

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> According to my delivery driver -'apparently a bus

> was on fire'. Seems to have gone quiet now.

A police officer told me it was a house three doors along Melford. No doubt we'll find out at some point. Hopefully no-one was injured and they all got out safely.

Currently block at bottom of Underhill still in place.

[IlonaM]

Looks like incident may be almost over as just seen a fire engine reversing down the road.

[undergran]

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters are tackling a house fire on Melford Road in Forest Hill.

The whole of the first floor and all of the roof is alight.

The Brigade was called at 0704. Fire crews from West Norwood and surrounding fire stations are at the scene. The cause of the fire is not known at this stage.

LFB UPDATE

[IlonaM]

Police still blocking bottom of Underhill at present except to residents living on Underhill below Melford. No through traffic.

[IlonaM]

Source: https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2020/may/house-fire-forest-hill/

House fire - Forest Hill

Today 07:04

Lewisham

House or flat fire

l

Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters tackled a house fire on Melford Road in Forest Hill.

The whole of the first floor and the roof were badly damaged. A male and a female left the affected property, unhurt, before the Brigade arrived. A woman from a neighbouring property was assessed at the scene by London Ambulance Service crews.

The Brigade was called at 0704 and the fire was under control by 0916. Fire crews from West Norwood and surrounding fire stations were at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

[IlonaM]

Bottom of Underhill appears to have reopened to traffic.

[Siduhe]

We live close by. Everyone got out fine and no injuries but serious damage to the house so Melford between Wood Vale and Underhill likely to be closed most of the day apparently.

[SnakeFilth]

A small house fire is not a 'major incident'. I know round these parts some people would consider a theft of a plant pot a major crime (then come on here and moan about it), but please put things into perspective.

[MrsR]

I think the people affected would disagree with you snakefilth - a fire affecting several homes is pretty major.

https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2020/may/house-fire-forest-hill/

[MrsR]

Photo attached

[IlonaM]

SnakeFilth Wrote:

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> A small house fire is not a 'major incident'. I

> know round these parts some people would consider

> a theft of a plant pot a major crime (then come on

> here and moan about it), but please put things

> into perspective.

60 firefighters do not attend a 'small house fire'. It had a significant impact on both the original property and neighbouring properties. Go and troll elsewhere.

[purple01]

Anyone in the Melford Road/ Wood Vale/ Underhill road area please can you keep an eye out for a black cat, fairly thin, with a white neck and a blue collar. It belongs to the house on Melford Road that burnt down on Monday and ran away - they're worried because it was only recently attacked by the big tabby stray that is on heat / very territorial atm. I'm a neighbour and happy to come help catch it!

[Sue]

😢

[Siduhe]

Snakefilth - on the off chance you?re not just trying to provoke a reaction - the family have lost everything and their immediate neighbours are similarly affected. Roof, floors, stairs in the house - all gone - horrible and terrifying for everyone involved. Have a bit of basic human empathy.

And yes please keep an eye out for the cat - thanks purple01. Black and white - answers to Theo. Likewise happy to help catch and care for him so he can be reunited with his family - if anyone sees him.

[purple01]

I saw the cat last night, calling outside their house, responded to me, Sadly by the time I got out it stepped on another cats territory and got in to a scrap and it?s hiding somewhere in a garden behind the terrace - it?s definitely still in the immediate area at least - I?ve attached a photo

[ED Bird]

Has anyone attempted to contact a shelter for a TNR of the territorial stray?

I'll keep a look out for Theo

{& if you need any help with printing &/or pinning a few flyers just email me on [email protected]}

Kindest,

Heather {The Wingless Bird}

purple01 Wrote:

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they're worried because it was only recently attacked by the big tabby stray that is on heat / very territorial atm.

[Sally Eva]

I should start a new thread for the lost cat. No one who has found a cat is likely to check this one

[purple01]

Theo hasn't yet been found but is definitely staying near the house on Melford Road (top end) and the gardens that back on to it from Wood Vale - a lot of people have seen him (although not very recently/last day or so) and one failed capture. I've been notified about a black and white cat in forest hill near station, but it's definitely not that one, one in horniman (not that one either) and checked the one that got runover - not him thankfully.

On the stray - I contacted Celia Hammond. They asked me to feed it regularly and get it on a routine. However, I've been unsuccessful and it turned out the Magpies and other cats were eating the food and it's stopped coming to my house (i have a timid old largely indoors cat, who somehow appears to have one this territory. So I've just delegated to some neighbours on wood vale who seem to get on well with it and it goes to see them a lot. Hopefully they can coax it in to a routine and then it can be caught and neutered - apparently that should help a lot

Nissa

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[Zig-Zag]

Thank you for trying to rescue the poor frightened cat. Are the owners able to call it from near their tragically fired damaged house. It might come to their voice?

[Siduhe]

Just to say that this story has a happy ending - Theo has been found and rescued by his family. With huge thanks to all the lovely neighbours around Melford/Wood Vale and Underhill who got in touch with possible sightings - there are a lot of black and white cats in the area - but one of the sightings paid off. Thanks again.