wˌaɪl ˈɔːl ðə jˈʌŋ mˈɛn wɜːɹ ɐwˈeɪ æɾə fˈɛɹ dˈeɪ ɪn nˈɪɹbaɪ θˈɛtfɚd, ɐ fˈaɪɚ kˈɔːzd baɪ ɐ lˈaɪtnɪŋ stɹˈaɪk sˈɛt fˈaɪɚ tə ðə sˈɜːdʒənz hˈaʊs wˌɪtʃ kwˈɪkli spɹˈɛd tə ðə sɚɹˈaʊndɪŋ pɹˈɑːpɚɾiz.
While all the young men were away at a fair day in nearby Thetford, a fire caused by a lightning strike set fire to the surgeon's house which quickly spread to the surrounding properties.