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Search forBlaze guts city financier's East Devon mansion
Thursday, November 20, 2008, 08:10
But instead of celebrating the festive season in their luxury country pile, wealthy City financier Edmund Lazarus and wife Carol saw their Devon dream go up in smoke as a major fire destroyed much of their property.
More than 100 firefighters spent yesterday tackling the blaze at Combe Hill, an 18th century mansion in Combe Raleigh, near Honiton.
Around 90 per cent of its roof was completely destroyed by the fire, which is not believed to have been suspicious.
In addition, 70 per cent of the first floor was severely damaged and 20 per cent of the ground floor was damaged by heat, smoke and water.
Mr Lazarus is a founding partner of Englefield Capital, an independent private equity firm, which is reported to have more than £2bn under management.
From 1992 to 2000, Mr Lazarus was an elected councillor of Westminster City Council.
Mr and Mrs Lazarus are based in London and Devon. Mrs Lazarus rushed to the county yesterday with baby son Edward after being told of the fire by her parents, who live in a nearby coach house.
She told the Echo last night the whole family were "devastated" by the fire.
The property was finished and they were due to move in on December 1.
"I would like to thank the fire service for all they did in very difficult circumstances," Mrs Lazarus said.
"I would also like to pay tribute to the Salvation Army, who helped all on the scene.
"We now want to get the house back to how it was."
The alarm was raised by a member of the public at around 2.30am yesterday and the incident was responded to by a total of 16 fire engines and 103 firefighters.
One appliance from Honiton was sent, followed quickly by another and a third from Ottery St Mary.
Another three crews, one from Cullompton and two from Sidmouth, and a water bowser from Exeter were requested after this, as well as an incident command vehicle and a support appliance from Exmouth.
In addition, Exeter's aerial platform was sent, as well as crews from the city, Colyton, Seaton, Axminster, Tiverton, Budleigh Salterton, Topsham and Lyme Regis.
Water bowsers were also sent from Torquay and Barnstaple.
By 3.20am, around 30 per cent of the roof was alight and after more than two hours fighting the blaze at the three-storey property, 75 per cent of the roof and the first floor were ablaze.
Mike White, crew commander for Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service, said: "When we arrived there was a developed fire in the roof of the property.
"The fire was obviously being whipped up by very strong winds.
"The crew that arrived first entered the building and were subject to the intense heat and requested additional resources, which ended up as 16 appliances."
Mr White also said it had been a very difficult job and that all the crews had worked hard to contain the fire to limit the damage as much as possible.
Volunteers from the Salvation Army gave the firefighters food and drink and the British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Unit also attended from Bridgwater fire station, Somerset.
The Red Cross assisted Mrs Lazarus's parents as well as the fire crews.
Paul Green, a volunteer from the Salvation Army who was at the scene, said: "We have catered for more than 100 people."
The property was built in 1789 for one of Lord Nelson's admirals.
In 2007, Mr Lazarus applied for planning permission to build a gym and a garage with an annexe, which was approved.
Plans for a new access road were approved in 2008, as was a single-storey extension to form an orangery.
Linda Hymans, who lives in a property across the road, said she and her husband were woken in the night.
She said: "We were aware of the fire as I was woken up. I thought someone was having a race up the road but then I heard it a couple of times.
"I thought there might have been a road accident but my husband went down and he saw the fire engines there."
John Ruff, the owners' construction manager, said: "We have spoken to the owners and they are devastated. It is a big property with a mix of styles."
It is not yet clear whether the property can be saved.
Firefighters at Combe Hill, Combe Raleigh, after a blaze which destroyed much of the roof and first floor RICHARD AUSTIN
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