June 2009
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Two people cut free after RTC near Kidderminster
Two Kidderminster crews cut free two people from two cars that had collided on the A448 at Mustow Green on the afternoon of Wednesday July 1. A woman was carried by firefighters and paramedics to the Midland air ambulance and taken to Selly Oak Hospital and the other casualty was taken to hospital in Worcester by land ambulance.
Derelict farm building severely damaged by fire
A three storey derelict farm building was well alight when the first crews arrived at Lowenshill Farm, Weights Lane, Redditch on Wednesday evening, July 1. Six appliances were in attendance at the height of the fire that was stopped after seven hours. Youths were seen running away from the area and the police were informed. The building is the property of Persimmon Homes.
Views Sought on Fire Service Action Plan
People across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are being urged to have their say on the way the Fire Service is set to run.
At the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority meeting held on Friday, June 26, Members considered how its Fire Service intends to improve community safety and remain efficient.
Its Draft 2010-11 Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) Action Plan sets out a broad range of priorities. A 12-week consultation period is now open to gauge opinions on the recommendations outlined in the document.
Chief Fire Officer Paul Hayden said: “We have evaluated the effectiveness of our current prevention, protection and response arrangements. This review took account of input from our District Commanders, District Community Safety Staff and our Firefighters in order to capture local knowledge and risk information.
“The recommendations in the report explore ways in which we may be able to further increase the level of Service to the public. Although some of the recommendations are quite detailed we would like to encourage members of the public to read the IRMP action plan and to respond to our consultation questionnaire.”
Brigadier Peter Jones, Chairman of the Fire Authority, said: “These are only draft proposals at this stage and that it is why it’s vital to gauge the opinions of our communities. The consultation is open to everyone for 12 weeks and all opinions sought will be fed back to the Authority before any final decisions are made.”
To give your opinion of these plans go to 'Our Publications'.
Teenager drowned in River Severn
The body of a 17 year old boy was recovered from the River Severn on Monday June 29 following a two and a half hour search by Fire Service boat crews from Worcester and Evesham. They were assisted by crews from Droitwich and Malvern together with volunteers from Mercia Inshore Rescue and Severn Area Rescue Association, Police and the Air Ambulance. Officers gave interviews and briefings to local/regional and national broadcast/press reporters which included warnings about the inherent dangers of swimming in open water.
Suspicious house fire near Evesham
A semi detached house in Horsebridge Avenue, Badsey was severely damaged by fire in the early hours of Tuesday June 30. Two crews from Evesham and one from Broadway attended. Firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire in the kitchen and a second crew were able to successfully extinguish the fire in a front room. A third team carried out a search of the house. No persons were trapped or injured. An Alsatian dog was rescued. The crews were able to stop the fire from damaging the adjacent property. A fire investigation with police scenes of crime officers was carried out later.
50,000 chickens saved from farm fire
About 50,000 chickens were saved when fire started in a filtration unit at one end of a 200m x 50m chicken shed at Maund Court, Boddenham, Hereford on Thursday June 25. Crews from Ross on Wye, Hereford,Leominster,Leintwardine and Peterchurch attended.
Gas cylinders cooled down for 24 hours following fire
A 24 hours exclusion zone was enforced following a fire in a car that spread to a garage compound where a number of acetylene,propane and oxygen cylinders were stored at Sherwood Road, Breme Park Industrial Estate, Bromsgrove. Two crews from Bromsgrove were in first attendance on Thursday evening June 25 and the incident was closed 24 hours later. Ground monitors were used to cool the cylinders. No one was injured and no cylinder exploded.
Lightening strike hits Cottage electrical supply
Lightening struck the external mains supply to a cottage at Cradley, near Malvern during a thunder storm on Friday morning, June 26. A small fire was extinguished prior to the arrival of two crews from Malvern. At the same time, one crew from Hereford attended a similar incident after lightening had struck an electrical box outside a cottage at Tillington.
Boy stuck up a tree
A crew from Worcester used a 9m ladder to rescue an 11 year old boy who was stuck up a tree in Wheelwright Close on Friday evening June 26.
Person rescued from River Stour
One person was rescued by Kidderminster crews from the River Stour in the early hours of Saturday June 27.
Three hour cordon enforced after LPG leak from Landrover
Two crews from Bromsgrove put in a safety cordon around a Landrover and allowed approximately 60 litres of liquid petroleum gas to vent. The incident at the MSF forecourt, Brickhouse Lane, Stoke Prior lasted for three hours during which time the road was closed, the store was evacuated and the firefighters used two water wall sprays to disperse the gas.
Man struck glancing blow by express train
A man was struck a glancing blow by an express train near Tibberton, Droitwich shortly before 2000 hrs on Saturday June 27. The casualty is reported to have dropped his mobile phone out of a shirt pocket onto the track as he leaned over the parapet of a footbridge. He was hit by the train as he attempted to recover his phone. Worcester and Droitwich crews assisted paramedics take the man to the air ambulance. However, the aircraft was found to have a mechanical problem, so crews assisted in his transfer to a land ambulance.
Disposable BBQ starts Hills fire
A disposable BBQ left unattended set fire to a small area of grass on the Malvern Hills on Sunday afternoon, June 28. A Malvern crews used a backpack to extinguish the fire. Twenty minutes earlier, the same crew had put out a bin fire near the car park at West Malvern Quarry.
Teenager rescued from River Arrow
A teenage boy was pulled to safety from the River Arrow at Forge Mill Lane, Redditch on Sunday evening June 28. The boy, who is believed to have been pushed into the eight foot deep river by another boy, was rescued by crews from Redditch. The boy was found clinging to the side of the riverbank suffering from the onset of hypothermia. He was treated by paramedics.
Carers praised for saving elderly resident.
Worcester fire crews have praised the action of the warden and carers at Chelmsford Court, Newcastle Close Worcester who extinguished a fire in the bedroom of an 88 year old woman on Sunday evening June 28. The fire is believed to have started accidentally by a cigarette. The resident suffered from smoke inhalation and burns and was taken to hospital by land ambulance.
Roof fire at Tyrrells 'Chips' premises
Crews from Kingsland, Leominster and the aerial ladder platform from Hereford were in attendance at Tyrrells 'Chips' premises at Stretford, near Leominster on Wednesday afternoon, June 24. They successfully tackled a small fire in 10 square metres of roof panelling. The company's employees evacuated safely.
Extractor unit fire at Hereford factory
Eighteen firefighters with three appliances and the water carrier were in attendance at Special Metals Wiggin factory premises in Holmer Road, Hereford on Wednesday evening June 24 and dealt with a small fire in an extractor unit. The extractor filters were removed and the unit was allowed to cool down. One hose reel and two BA were used.
Motor cyclist killed in RTC
A motor cyclist was killed in a RTC involving a car on the A4440 between the Powick and Rushwick islands on Wednesday evening June 24. One crew from Worcester attended. In a separate incident an hour later, a woman moped rider was taken to hospital following a collision with another moped rider near the Tesco Express, London Road, Worcester. One crew from Worcester attended.
Cow trapped in mud near River Wye at Ross
Twelve firefighters from Ross on Wye carried out an extensive search of both sides of the riverbank on Wednesday evening June 24 following a report that a cow was trapped in mud. No animal was found and the search was called off after 50 minutes in the belief that the cow had self rescued.
American tourists escape coach fire
A party of 25 American tourists escaped unharmed after their coach caught fire on the A49 Leominster By Pass on Monday afternoon, June 22. Two crews from Leominster fought the fire with two hose reel jets. The coach was severely damaged. The tourists filmed the action from a safe distance while they waited for a replacement coach to take them onto Gloucester,where they stayed overnight before returning home to the USA on Tuesday June 23.
Schoolgirl returns home to find kitchen fire
A girl returned from school on Monday afternoon June 22, to find the kitchen of her home on fire at Egdon lane, Spetchley, near Worcester. When she opened the door, the families' two pet dogs,a labrador and a springer ran out of the thick acrid smoke. The girl alerted her mother, who was at work nearby, who called the Fire Service. Two Blue Watch crews from Worcester attended and extinguished the fire with one hose reel and PPV. The fire was caused by a portable radio and an iron being left on top of an oven hob that had been switched on.
Glider crash near Evesham
A glider crash landed at Middle Littleton, near Evesham on Tuesday afternoon, June 23. No persons were injured. Evesham and Pebworth crews attended. The glider had taken off earlier from Honeybourne.
USAR called in to shore up pub after car crash
A USAR team from Droitwich used specialist equipment to shore up the Hanbury Turn Public House after a Ford Focus Estate car had left the road and crashed into the building narrowly missing a customer who was seated inside. The driver and passenger of the car were released and taken to hospital at Redditch by ambulance prior to the arrival of firefighters from Bromsgrove. Customers were safely evacuated as the USAR team made the building safe from structural collapse. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening June 23.
Fire stopped from spreading to storage oil tank
Crews from Malvern and Bromyard extinguished a fire in a 4m x 5m shed attached to a cottage and prevented the fire from spreading to a nearby oil storage tank at Plough Cottage, Acton Beauchamp Road, Suckley on Friday June 19.
Cat stuck on roof for a week - rescued!
A black cat that had been stuck on the roof of County Furnishings, Castle Street, Worcester for a week, was brought to safety by firefighters using a nine metre ladder and short extension. The rescue, at the request of the RSPCA, took place on Friday June 19.
Two garden sheds and contents damaged by fire
Two crews from Kidderminster successfully extinguished a fire in two garden sheds at a property in Marlpool Place, Kidderminster on Friday evening June 19. Fire control received 10 repeat calls to the incident in four minutes.
Detached house shored up by USAR
Redditch crews used temporary props to stabilise a detached house in Lineholt Close, Oakenshaw South, Redditch after the property was damaged following a collision involving two cars. No-one was trapped or injured. A USAR team attended with specialist props to enable the two vehicles to be removed from the property. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, June 20.
Kitchen fire
Two crews from Redditch and one from Bromsgrove were called to a kitchen fire "persons reported" at a house at Bascote Close, Headless Cross, Redditch on Saturday June 20. All persons were accounted for and the crews used two BA and one hose reel and PPV.
Boy suffers smoke inhalation
A 12 year old boy suffered from smoke inhalation at a small fire near an electricity sub station at the rear of properties in Chedworth Close, Church Hill South, Redditch. One crew from Redditch attended. The boy was treated by ambulance personnel.
Walker injured in Symonds Yat fall
A man suffered chest injuries and suspected broken ribs after falling on the rock face at Symonds Yat on Saturday evening June 20. Crews from Whitchurch, Ross on Wye and Hereford assisted colleagues from Gloucestershire F&RS locate and get the casualty to a waiting ambulance.
Wood drying kiln fire
Crews from Hereford and Peterchurch were involved in a three and a half hour operation to tackle a fire in a insulated wood drying kiln at Lower Lulham Farm, Lulham, Hereford on Sunday morning June 21.
Coffee making machine fire at Worcestershire Royal Hospital
Crews from Worcester were sent to the hospital on Sunday morning June 21 after the alarms operated in Avon ward. The alarm system had been activated by a small fire in the electric plug of a coffee machine. PPV was used to disperse smoke from a corridor.
Field fire caused by unattended bonfire
Firefighters tackled a fire involving approximately two hundred square metres of undergrowth in a field at Lyth Lane,Lineholt near Ombersley on Monday afternoon, June 15. The fire had spread from an unattended bonfire. Nine firefighters from Stourport used beaters and one hose reel from the Pinzgauer to extinguish the fire in 42 minutes.
Faulty ballcock floods flat
A faulty ballcock caused flooding to a depth of two inches in five rooms of a flat at Furness Close, Worcester. The 85 year old woman tenant was asleep and unaware of the flooding until alerted by her neighbour whose flat was also affected. Crews from Worcester and the Incident Support Unit from Droitwich attended on Tuesday June 16.
Leominster packaging factory fire
Fire control took the first call to the Skymark packaging factory premises in Southern Avenue, Leominster at 03.27 hrs on Wednesday June 17. Subsequently twenty pumps together with supporting specialist appliances from throughout the two Counties and support from Mid and West Wales and Shropshire FRS were in attendance involving about 100 personnel.
Woman casualty in two vehicle RTC
A woman casualty was extricated by firefighters from Worcester and Malvern following a two vehicle collision at Hanley Road, Malvern on Wednesday June 17. She was taken to hospital by land ambulance.
Cannabis plants found in Upton flat loft following fire
A quantity of cannabis plants were found in the loft of a third floor flat at New Street, Upton on Severn following a fire on Wednesday afternoon, June 17. Crews from Broadway, Ledbury and Tewkesbury attended - (Upton crews were in attendance on relief at Leominster at the time) The fire, which was extinguished by four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus, is believed to have been caused by an unattended lighted candle. Police later arrested a man in connection with the discovery of the cannabis plants.
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Leominster fire – 6pm update
The Director of Public Health for NHS Herefordshire and Herefordshire Council, Dr Akeem Ali, has reassured those living in Leominster that there has been no long-term health risk from the fire which ravaged a factory in the town this morning.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, Dr Ali said that while around 170 people had been evacuated from their homes to a council-run rest centre in the Bridge Street sports centre, the reason for the evacuation had been the risk of explosions at the Skymark factory.
This afternoon officers from the Environment Agency monitored the air quality in the town. Based on the result, Dr Ali was satisfied that any risk had been minimised and that those evacuated should be allowed back into their homes – although residents have been advised to keep their windows closed for the time being.
Police officers will be on hand to assist those evacuated back to their homes.
During the incident morale was high at the rest centre and the public spirited nature of those evacuated has been praised by all agencies involved in the incident who said the Leominster community had pulled together and supported each other with many volunteering to help prepare food during the day.
Overnight and tomorrow fire fighters are due to remain at the scene of the fire to damp down.
Schools are due to open as normal tomorrow, and arrangements have been made to catch up on refuse collections missed today.
Missed domestic refuse collections from today will be picked up by contractors either tomorrow (Thurs) or Friday, or possibly Saturday.
Anyone who hasn’t had their refuse collected by end of play on Saturday is asked to retrieve it and put it back out for collection during the next couple of weeks.
The council’s contractors are aiming to catch up on missed trade waste collections by the end of the week if bags and bins are left accessible to the crews.
While the A49 at Leominster was re-opened earlier this afternoon, Southern Avenue remains closed to through traffic – workers needing access to businesses along this road will be allowed in through a cordon manned by firefighters.
Anyone in Leominster with concerns over their health are asked to telephone the out of hours number – 0330 1239309.
Modern Firefighting Technology Significantly Reduces Impact of Fire
At an 8am briefing this morning the Fire Service was predicting that the major fire at Skymark, Southern Avenue, Leominster, could be burning for anything up to two days.
Not under estimating the impact of such a long incident on local businesses the wider community, the decision was taken to deploy a new form of foam developed to support Firefighting in rural communities around Herefordshire where water is in short supply.
The new Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) from Peterchurch Fire Station was sent to the scene this morning and had an immediate impact on reducing the volume of smoke and virtually stopped the plume that was causing such problems.
A further deployment of the High Volume Pumping and Urban Search and Rescue Crews has resulted in the fire being extinguished shortly after midday, some eight hours after its discovery.
A/Deputy Chief Fire Officer Jon Hall said: “Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority were one of the first in the country to invest in this new technology - making the decision to purchase it to protect rural communities. To see it used to such dramatic effect on this incident is testament to the decision that was taken by the Authority.”
Major Fire in Leominster causes evacuation of homes and schools.
Around 80 Firefighters from across Herefordshire and Worcestershire are dealing with a severe fire at a packaging site in Leominster.
The fire broke out at just after 3.30 am at Skymark, Southern Avenue.
A 400m exclusion zone has been set up in the area as the site contains a large quantity of chemicals. Homes in the nearby vicinity are being asked to keep their windows and doors closed and a number of local schools have been closed for the day.
Our priorities for this incident have been twofold. Firstly, to deal with a significant chemical fire and a risk of explosion but, more importantly, to help other Authorities in the Leominster area deal with the substantial toxic smoke flume.
Read more and see pictures on BBC Hereford and Worcester |
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Twenty repeat calls to M5 car and caravan fire
Fire Control received 20 repeat calls in the space of eight minutes from the public to report a car fire on the M5 on Saturday afternoon, May 30.Crews from Droitwich and Bromsgrove attended where the Chrysler Voyager was well alight. The northbound carriageway between junctions 5 and 4a was closed for a short period while firefighters tackled the fire and detached a caravan from the vehicle. At the same time that this incident occurred, two crews from Kidderminster were sent to an RTC involving five cars outside the Park Gates Public House,Stourbridge Road, Kidderminster. No one was injured at either incident.
Crews give oxygen treatment to chip pan fire victim
A person suffering from smoke inhalation was given oxygen treatment following a chip pan fire in a large detached property in Cowleigh Road, Malvern. Four BA,One CO2 extinguisher, one HR jet and positive pressure ventilation fan were used by the two Malvern crews who attended on Saturday evening May 30
Thermal imaging camera used to locate shopping centre escalator fire
Two Kidderminster crews were detained for nearly three hours at the town's Swan Shopping Centre following a small fire in the motor of the escalator on Monday evening June 1.Later, crews from Stourport and Kidderminster used beaters and backpacks to put out a fire in fifty sqm of undergrowth off Kingsford Lane, Wolverley.
Three people suffer from smoke in kitchen fire
Two men and a woman received treatment for smoke inhalation following a fire in the kitchen of a house in Alcester Road, Hollywood, Wythall on Tuesday morning, June 2.Crews from Redditch and Bromsgrove attended.
Two drivers cut free from vehicles by Ledbury crews
The drivers of two vehicles involved in a collision at Ashperton near Ledbury were released by crews in an hour long operation on Tuesday June 2. Both drivers were taken to hospital by land ambulance.
Body of 17 year old found in River Wye
The body of a 17 year old youth was found in the River Wye near Bredwardine on Wednesday June 3. Crews from Eardisley and Hereford together with the police helicopter and air ambulance had carried out an extensive search of the river and surrounding area during early evening of Tuesday June 2, but no one was found. The alarm was raised after the youth,who had been seen to enter the water, failed to reappear after 30 minutes. The Coroner has been informed. H&WFRS issued a public warning via the media about the inherent dangers of swimming in rivers lakes during hot weather.
Horse rescued from stream and four calves from River
Crews from Droitwich and Kidderminster successfully rescued a horse that had fallen down an embankment into a stream near Moors Avenue, Hartlebury on Wednesday June 3.In a separate animal rescue on Thursday June 4, four nine month old calves were rescued from the River Wye at Old court Farm, Bredwardine by crews from Eardisley and Hereford. |
