Raasay House is ablaze

That’s what my skipper said when he awoke me from a deep sleep at 2:00am this morning. This was the last thing I had been expecting, a shout in the teeth of a gale. However the depression was now well to the north of Lewis so the wind had gone to the west and moderated somewhat.

synoptic chart for midnight on 17/1/09

Though when he phoned I had my doubts, especially when I opened the front door to be confronted by hailstones that were lying thick on the ground. Nevertheless I jumped in the Land Rover with my overalls covering my wacky Skye Batik trousers and rushed southwards down a VERY slippery ‘Calum’s road’. Although I had to lock the center diff to get up a couple of hills and had to drive on the verge whilst descending one I made it. Taking the low road to avoid any fallen trees I almost hit a large wooden pallet that had been blown into the road at Oscaig, all the while the glow from the sky to the south was getting brighter. As I drove past the rear of the house the flames were already through the roof and it did not look good. The rest of the crew had the Loch Striven already warmed up and we let go the ropes and headed for a very dark Sconser, the weather had obviously taken it’s toll as there was no power on there! Which was a bizarre contrast to the now raging inferno that was Raasay house and all the floodlights at the new ferry terminal. Whilst on the way over the Portree lifeboat came speeding south with additional personnel and landed them at the pier. Despite a tricky landing in the dark with squalls racing down loch Sligachan we berthed safely and took on board two fire appliances and an ambulance, as no one knew for certain if it was unoccupied at the time as I think the alarm had been raised by somebody from the new harbour works. After discharging our traffic and tying up I took a drive along to take some photo’s and it really was quite depressing. The last time I’d seen any kind of fire at Raasay House was 8 years ago tomorrow and that was from the fire eater, bonfire and fireworks from my wedding there. I stayed just long enough to get a few pictures then left as it really was quite sad to see all that work go up in flames.

Sunday 18th

Didn’t get much in the way of sleep last night as I was half expecting to be called out again so stayed on board. The Portree lifeboat arrived alongside the ferry and I get the feeling it was around 5:30am though I couldn’t swear to it. The wind over here had died away but Davie Urquhart the coxswain reported it as being pretty gusty at Sconser. The ‘Corinne Whiteley’ which is not the regular Portree boat dropped off more fire hoses and crew though by now it was clear that the hoses would not be needed and at 6:00am the lifeboat headed for home.

We did the regular run at 10:00am taking back the ambulance ( which wasn’t fortunately needed ) and the Portree fire crew who were ‘stood down’. At Sconser we picked up the Kyle crew and a crew from Inverness that would relieve the Broadford crew that were still on site. We also brought back police and a contractors representative. Doing an extra run at around 10:50 to take back the Broadford crew and pick up a lucky car that was waiting for the 16:30 ferry!

Home at last

Finally made back home despite the snow and as promised here’s some pic’s

Rear of Raasay house 2:30am

That was taken on my way to the ferry and as you can see the fire is well established

Raasay house fire 2:30am

This was taken a few moments earlier.

Ambulance and first appliance 3:08am

Here’s the emergency vehicles boarding the ferry at a very dark Sconser.

Raasay house at 4:10am

This was taken after we’d tied up and the fire appliances were on scene

Water from the sea!

There wasn’t enough water so they took it from the sea!

Portree Lifeboat

The Portree relief lifeboat ‘Corinne Whiteley’ arrived for the second time around 5:30am with more men and hoses.

Coxswain Davy Urquhart

Skillfully berthed alongside by a rather cold looking David Urquhart on the flying bridge.

The aftermath

After ‘Corinne Whiteley’ departed I’d an attempt at sleep and all too soon it was time for the 10:00am sailing, arriving at Sconser to find that Raasay House was not the only casualty of the night.

Parked upside down!

With the extra run out of the way and the Loch Striven once again fastened to Scotland I went to look at the smouldering ruins.

What can I say

It was a sad sight indeed, summed up better by all the comments left on here by visitors, workers, former employee’s, contractors and even total strangers from the other side of  the world than anything I could say. A controvertial building at the best of times in it’s 200 odd year history it has in some way touched all who have a connection with Raasay. I for one will be shedding a tear for it and everyone who put so much effort into it of late. I didn’t stay long and headed back to the Loch Striven for a well earned sleep.

Job done

At 4:00pm the Portree and Broadford tenders left along with the Kyle and Inverness crews, leaving the Raasay crew to watch the ruins.

Going home