Twenty-foot high flames licked the air and thick black smoke poured from a burning roof as crews from six fire stations spent hours tackling a house fire in Leatherhead.

Six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the semi-detached house in Kingston Road, Leatherhead, having been called to the fire at about 6.45pm last night (Sunday, August 21).

The house was empty at the time of the fire.

Crews from Leatherhead, Epsom, Reigate, Banstead, Guildford and Painshill fire stations fought the fire. At the peak of the fire's intensity, flames were about 20 feet high, according to a firefighter from Leatherhead fire station.

Firefighters scaled aerial ladder platforms to douse the burning roof with water jets and stop the fire spreading to adjoining houses.

But a firefighter from Leatherhead fire station said "the roof and first floor were severely damaged" by the time the crew left at about 10pm.

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Firefighter Alan Daly at the end of a hard night's work. Pic credit: Alan Daly (@AlanDaly10)

“It was a reasonable-sized job,” a spokesman from Epsom fire station said.

“When we arrived there was thick black smoke issuing from the roof, and the roof was well-alight.

“Luckily, because of the good work of the breathing apparatus crews they managed to stop any further loss to the building. The damage was mainly to the first floor and roof.

“When you look at the house from the front it doesn’t look as if much had happened.

“It was not as bad as it could have been. It had the potential to be a lot worse.”

More to follow.

Did you see anything? Get in touch on 020 8722 6483 or at craig.richard@london.newsquest.co.uk