Reading your post on what was reported I would take it as a large serious fire?
Was it not?
As I said O.C. I would never seek to give my professional opinion on a fire for the simple reason I am not a professional firefighter, and as I wasn't even a witness to the blaze I cannot speculate on it's severity {at the time}.
But words like "devastating", "the fire ripped through the property" these are emotive words and phrases that can sometimes embellish a story. Every fire in a property can be potentially devastating for the occupants and if left, to really take hold, will inevitably "rip" through the premises, but sometimes these embellishments could be down to the reporter.
By saying it was "just" a semi detached house I was referring to the scale of things, meaning it was not say on the scale of Grenfell tower.
Whichever it was I still don't understand why Clowne and Matlock brigades were needed, especially since whilst there Clowne and Matlock themselves would not have full cover.