Firefighters Tackle Major Blaze On Ryde Esplanade

Firefighters from across the Isle of Wight were called to a significant house fire on Ryde Esplanade yesterday evening (Thursday).

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the incident at around 5pm, with crews from Ryde, Newport and Cowes responding to the scene opposite the Hovertravel terminal.

Members of the public, including festival-goers in the area, reported seeing thick smoke billowing from the roof and chimney of the property.

Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used main jets and hose reel jets to tackle the blaze, drawing water from a nearby hydrant.

Three fire engines and an Aerial Ladder Platform were deployed as crews worked to bring the fire under control.

The southern side of Ryde Esplanade was closed between Dover Street and Union Street while emergency services dealt with the incident.

By around 7.30pm, firefighters were carrying out extensive checks to ensure the fire had been fully extinguished. Island Echo understands that nobody was inside the property when the roof caught fire.

With smoke continuing to escape from the roof space, crews used specialist roof hooks to remove sections of the roof and identify any remaining hotspots.

Motorists faced several hours of disruption as the road closure remained in place while safety checks were completed.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.