LOCAL residents watched in horror as flames engulfed a detached dormer bungalow situated a short distance from Monmouth town centre. At its heighth, the flames reached for the sky and lit up the night time Monmouth sky. Firemen from Monmouth and the neighbouring Whitchurch stations, plus crews from Gloucestershire, were quickly on the scene, but by the time they brought the flames under control the property had been totally gutted. The Beacon has been told that the only occupant of the bungalow at the time was Mr Richie Prtosser, who rented the property and lived there with his partner, Kate. He had been able to get out of the burning property, taking with him the family's pet dog, Rex. A spokesperson for the County Fire and Rescue Service said they had received the call, saying there was a fire at The Gardens, off Hereford Road, just before six o'clock in the evening. "There was no one in the building when fire crews reached the scene" said the spokesperson. Six firefighters, all using breathing appartus, were involved in bringing the flames under control and the stop message was reeived just after eight o'clock. Because of the lack of water at the scene, applies had to be used to bring in water. "The police were in attendance all night and fire investigation scenes of crime officers are trying to find out what caused the fire" added the spokesman. Well known Mnmouth resident, Derek Jones, who lives two doors away from the bungalow, desdribed how he "heard fireworks" around 6pm. "I went outside and saw that the whole place was well ablaze - there was already one fire engine there - someone had obviously raised the alarm." Mr Jones told the Beacon that in the 1940s the property had been owned by a George Taylor of Church Street who extended it over a period of time. Later on, his daughter Gwen lived there with her husband, Sid Ellis. When they died the property was put up for auction and bought by a developer. The Beacon understands that planning consent was granted in December, 2006, to a local developer, who intended demolishing the bungalow. It appears it is the intention to develop two homes on the site. This week, just a shell of the former dormer bungalow remains on the land, which stands close to the Habderdashers' Girls School in Hereford Road. Mr Prosser and his partner are believed to be living with family members in Monmouth, reflecting on his escape from one of the worst fires Monmouth has seen for many years.
