Edward Illife’s island retreat up in flames. Click images to zoom. Courtesy Dorset Fire and Rescue ServiceFire has partially destroyed a millionaire’s island retreat on Green Island, near Poole in Dorset.
The four-storey timber-framed building was still under construction when a fire broke out on Friday morning.
Fire crews required the assistance of Poole Harbour Commissioners to help them carry two appliances over to the island on barges. Members of the RNLI were also on standby to ensure fire crews remained ‘water safe’.
The fire was brought under control using four light portable pumps to bring sea water up to the scene of the fire. A water tank on the island was also available.
Fire crews were being carried onto the island in six-hour shifts to initially bring the fire under control and then to damp down the scene.
The island was bought for £2.5m by Edward llife in 2005, and he received planning permission two years ago to build a property there. The home was purpose-built using Canadian cedar logs which were shipped over to the UK, according to the BBC.
In total 45 firefighters were needed to damp down the fire, which has caused severe damage to the house including partial collapse. Crews were however able to stop the blaze spreading to the rest of the island, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Mr Iliffe said that the house – which was praised by conservationists for its environmentally friendly credentials – could be rebuilt “relatively painlessly”.
The cause of the fire is so far unknown, though speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Iliffe said that the fireplace, which had already been tested, could have been the cause, or that perhaps construction work was to blame.
