A HOMEOWNER whose garden was devastated by fire today paid tribute to the firefighters who prevented the blaze spreading to his house.John McQuin of Westland, Martlesham Heath, was at home on Friday when fire tore through heathland and into his garden.

A HOMEOWNER whose garden was devastated by fire today paid tribute to the firefighters who prevented the blaze spreading to his house.

John McQuin of Westland, Martlesham Heath, was at home on Friday when fire tore through heathland and into his garden.

He called fire crews to the scene and they arrived in minutes, putting the blaze out and saving Mr McQuin's home.

Today, he has begun to salvage what is left of his garden and said he is grateful that his household insurance covers fencing destroyed in the blaze.

He said: “We have now just started to tidy the garden up. All of the fence was damaged and we had a mixed hedge all along the back which is gone.

“I don't know how much the value of the damage is but it will be pretty big.

“Replacing the plants will be expensive, certainly if we try to replace some of the mature plants.”

The fire ravaged Mr McQuin's garden at about 10am on Friday, stopping just two metres from his patio.

A magnolia on the house was scorched and the blaze narrowly avoided the house.

Mr McQuin contacted the fire service himself and said their efforts deserved recognition.

He added: “My wife was very scared but I was fairly comfortable because I knew we could get away and if the house went up we would be safe.

“The firefighters did a great job and came back three or four times to damp down because little areas kept breaking out.

“They did a great job and were here really quickly.”

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