SHOPKEEPERS and residents poured out on to Market Street on Thursday afternoon to watch as firefighters dealt with a fire in a roof garden on top of a block of flats Watford ring road.

Billows of black smoke alerted those in the area to the fire which was attended by four fire engines and 23 firefighters took about ten minutes to put out the blaze.

Four teams of firefighters from Watford, Rickmansworth and Garston were called to the corner of Market Street and Exchange Place at just after 3pm last Thursday. A hydraulic platform from St Albans was also dispatched.

Sub-Officer Eric Muncer, was in charge of the effort. Two men in breathing apparatus were sent up a 13.5 metre ladder to the roof and a water jet was used to douse the flames.

Mr Muncer said when he arrived the fire looked very serious. The roof was on fire and two apartments below seemed to be burning.

A resident of the flats let teams of firefighters in through the front door. They searched the two flats and found no damage. Nobody was home and there were no casualties.

Mr Muncer said the fire had probably started in some large timber plant pots. The recent hot weather had dried them, meaning a discarded cigarette would be enough to start a blaze.

There was evidence of barbecues at the scene, but Mr Muncer rejected this as being the likely cause. Nobody has come forward to take responsibility for the incident.

Although only those living in the flats are allowed on the roof garden, non-residents can easily gain access.

The firefighters were at the scene for an hour and a half. Mr Muncer said the fire was fairly unusual but only took ten minutes to bring under control.

July 6, 2001 9:32