THE THATCHED roof of a Droitwich cottage was completely destroyed by fire and the first floor was also damaged.
The incident happened at 5.38pm yesterday (Thursday) at the property in Broughton Green.
Nine fire engines and two water carriers from across two counties battled the blaze at its height.
They were also assisted by colleagues drafted in from West Midlands Fire Service.
The residents were safely evacuated and, once out, were cared for by paramedics.
When the firefighters arrived most of the thatched roof and the first floor were alight and the flames were rapidly spreading.
Fire crews worked through the night to bring the blaze under control, using water jets, breathing apparatus, compressed air foam, and water relay techniques.
They also cut away thatch to try to prevent the flames spreading further.
However, sadly all the roof and most of the first floor were destroyed by the fire.
The Highways Agency was also called by HWFRS in the early hours to grit the surrounding roads, as the water run-off from firefighting was starting to ice as temperatures dropped below freezing.
Fire crews remained at the scene for damping down and the incident was still being dealt with this afternoon (Friday).
An investigation will be launched to find the cause of the fire.
Area Commander Mark Preece of HWFRS said: “This is a timely reminder for people to check faulty electrical appliances, take particular care with log burners, and ensure Christmas lights and candles are never left unattended, to reduce the number of house fire tragedies over the holiday season.”
