Fire guts house of Huddersfield eccentric Jake Mangel Wurzel
Jul 27 2010 by Nick Lavigueur, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
Fire guts house of prominent Huddersfield character Jake Mangel Wurzel
FIRE has destroyed the home of well-known Huddersfield character Jake Mangel Wurzel.
The blaze started at the pensioner’s Salendine Nook property at about 6pm yesterday and smoke could be seen billowing out of a gaping hole in the roof across towards Lindley.
It is not currently known how the blaze began, but Jake, 72, was not injured and was outside his home yesterday evening talking to onlookers.
Three crews from Huddersfield fire station rushed to the blaze, but the severity of the fire caused the roof to collapse as the first crew arrived on the scene.
The condition of the property off Lindley Moor Road was so dangerous that firefighters were unable to enter.
Firefighters pumped water from nearby Laund Road but Huddersfield station manager, Chris Kirby, said they had been limited to fighting the fire from doorways.
He said: “We’re dealing with a seriously well developed house fire.
“Our main concern is that we can’t access the services (gas and electricity) to isolate them.
“Had he had a working smoke alarm then he would have been alerted to the fire a lot sooner.
“That would have reduced the severity of the fire.
