27th February 2009
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Woman trapped for 22 hours in overturned 4 x 4 rescued by Bromyard and Leominster crews
A 57 year old woman, who was trapped for 22 hours inside her overturned 4 x 4 was released by crews from Bromyard and Leominster following an hour long operation on Friday February 27th. The woman, who was suffering from hypothermia and other injuries, was carried on a spine board from the vehicle which lay on its roof in a stream,15 foot down an embankment off the road at Maiden Hyde,near Risbury. The woman was airlifted to hospital by Midlands Air Ambulance.
Man impaled on steel fence
Crews used specialist cutting equipment to free a 22 year old man who became impaled on a steel fence outside Bushwackers, The Trinity, Worcester, in the early hours of Friday February 27th. The man was lifted safely down to a waiting ambulance and was taken to hospital where he underwent an operation to remove the steel from his leg.
RTC fatality at the Callow, A49 Hereford
A woman aged 75, who was released from her Nissan Micra car by Hereford crews following an RTC involving a tipper truck at the Callow on Friday February 27th. She was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital by land ambulance.
Abandoned caravan fire Two crews from Worcester attended a fire involving a caravan full with rubbish that had been abandoned in a lay by on the B4636 near Crowle on Friday February 27th. Crews seven hour attendance at landfill waste disposal site fire Crews tackled a deep seated fire in an area of 100m x 50m at the landfill waste disposal site at Throckmorton, near Pershore on Saturday February 27th.
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20-28 February 2009 |
Arson Suspected in Unoccupied House
Fire Crews from Hereford, Fownhope, Ewyas Harold and Whitchurch were engaged for nearly nine hours at a fire in an unoccupied house at Hampton Bishop, near Hereford on Sunday, February 22.The fire started in a ground floor utility room and spread to the first floor. The property, which is still under construction, was heavily smoke logged. A fire investigation followed and West Mercia Police said later that a man had been arrested on suspicion of arson and released on police bail pending further inquiries.
Two Women Cut Free from Car after RTC
Malvern and Ledbury crews cut the roof off a Vauxhall Corsa and released the woman driver and her passenger. Both were ‘medically’ trapped following a collision with another car at the junction of the A449/A4104, near British Camp on Sunday, February 22. Both casualties were taken to hospital by land ambulance.
Man Suffers First Degree Burns in Cooker Fire
A man suffered first degree burns to his hands after attempting to extinguish a fire in the kitchen of his first floor flat at Southfield Street, Worcester on Sunday, February 22. He was taken to hospital by land ambulance. Two crews from Worcester attended the incident which involved a plastic container overheating on an unattended cooker.
Seven Chimney Fires Attended in Four Days Firefighters attended seven chimney fires in properties across the two counties during a four day period February 20/24 |
Car Driver Killed in A44 Collision
The driver of a Rover 214 was killed after a collision with a lorry on the A44 at Crown East, near Worcester on Saturday, February 14. Crews from Worcester were rapidly deployed on arrival at the scene as the car was well alight. The driver of the lorry and a passenger were not hurt. |
Public Make 31 Calls in 26 Minutes about City Centre Fire
Three crews from Worcester together with the hydraulic platform from Bromsgrove spent two hours tackling a blaze at the vacant premises of Lowesmoor Autocare at the Lowesmoor Trading Estate, Worcester on Saturday, February 14. Fire control received 31 duplicate calls from members of the public about the incident in the space of 26 minutes. No one was injured. The fire, which spread to the roof, was believed to have been started deliberately. |
Woman Helped from House Fire by Passer By
A woman was helped out of her smoke filled house by a passer by after a fire had started in a rear porch of the property at Lodge Hill, Defford, near Pershore around midday on Wednesday, February 18. Crews from Pershore, Evesham and Worcester attended. Four BA and two hose reels were used to to extinguish the fire in 28 minutes. The woman was treated for the effects of smoke inhalation by Fire Service personnel and paramedics. |
Two Men Killed in Two Car Collision
Two men died when their Citroen Saxo and an Audi A4 car were in collision on the single carriageway A449 near Hartlebury shortly after 2100 hours on Tuesday, February 17. Both vehicles caught fire. Two crews from Kidderminster attended. The driver of the Audi was taken to hospital by land ambulance. |
Emergency Services Deployed after Two People Jump off River Bridge
All three emergency services including 19 Fire and Rescue Service personnel, were deployed after two people were seen to have jumped into the River Severn from the parapet of the city centre bridge at around 1800 hours on Sunday February 15. Crews from Worcester, two ambulances and a fast response paramedic together with a number of police officers attended. Crews from Evesham and the Severn Area Rescue team at Stourport on Severn were turned back after a search found that the two people had got out safely. They were traced by police to an address in Bridge Street. |
Family Escape Bungalow Fire
A couple and their five year old daughter escaped unharmed after they were alerted by a fitted smoke alarm as a fire spread outside a bedroom in their bungalow home at Wellington Street, Worcester at around 07.30 hours on Friday, February 20. Two crews from Worcester attended and extinguished the fire which was believed to have started as a result of a freezer overheating and burning the electrical fittings. Firefighters also rescued the family's pet Alsatian dog and hamster. |
14-20 February 2009 |
Firefighters Help Resuscitate Man Hit by 11,000 Volt Shock
Fire crews from Evesham assisted paramedics to resuscitate a man who suffered extensive burns after the grab arm of a lorry he was driving touched an overhead electricity cable carrying 11,000 volts. The man was taken by air ambulance to hospital from the farm at Badsey, near Evesham on Thursday, February 19. |
18 February 2009 |
Six pence a week council tax rise for Fire and Rescue Service
Council taxpayers on Band D in Herefordshire and Worcestershire will pay an extra six pence a week this year for the Fire and Rescue Service that safeguards life and property across the two counties.
Members of the Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority today (Feb 18) approved a net budget requirement of £30,451m - an increase of 4.93% on 2008/09.
Band D taxpayers will pay £71.57 a year (or £1.38 a week) compared with the current £68.21 – an increase of £3.36 - as their share of the total cost of the Service in the 12 months from April. |
12 February 2009
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Audit Commission Confirms Authority is “Improving Strongly”
The Audit Commission has confirmed that Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority continues to be one of the best performing fire authorities in the country.
The findings, released today, confirm the Authority is improving strongly in key priority areas.
Brigadier Peter Jones, Chairman of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the Audit Commission has confirmed that we are improving strongly. They spent a great deal of time with us recently and looked in detail at how we work. When you consider our extremely challenging grant settlement this really is great news.
“The Audit Commission report confirmed that there have been significant reductions in fire deaths, primary and non domestic fires and all categories of arson. This is testament to the excellent prevention work being carried out by our staff across the two counties, who are all working to make Herefordshire and Worcestershire a safer place to live and work.”
The Audit Commission concluded that:
The report also confirmed that the FRA is providing a good and improving level of value for money. It said: “Costs are below median nationally and are the lowest when compared to other combined fire authorities. Performance has improved strongly in priority areas over the last 12 months.”
Chief Fire Officer Paul Hayden said: “This report confirms that our Service continues to perform exceptionally well, despite some financial challenges. We would not be able to deliver such excellent results without the support of our staff who are committed to making Herefordshire and Worcestershire safer.
“We are now focusing our attention on those groups of people who we know are more at risk from fire and other emergency incidents. We identify ‘hot spots’ and trends which help us to target our resources and now we are seeing a reduction in fires, fire deaths and arson. But we are not complacent. There is always more that can be done and we will continue to work to our objectives to help drive down emergency incidents even further.” |
9-16 February 2009
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NATIONAL CHIP WEEK - 9-15 FEBRUARY 2009
The chip is one of our most traditional and loved foods. Commenting on National Chip Week, Ian Prust, Group Manager Community Safety of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Most of us love freshly cooked crisp chips, there’s nothing like them. Our concern is that chip pan accidents are all too regular an occurrence –the latest incident occurred on 29th January 2009 where five fire appliances were required. Quite often all you need is an interruption like a telephone call or someone calling at your door and as you answer, the pan can be gently bubbling away and forgotten about.”
Group Manager Prust continued: “Chip pan fires are a prime example of where we can make major improvements through education. Most domestic fires start in the kitchen –so it is important to keep an eye on your cooking at all times.”
Group Manager Prust offers his top tips about what to do if a pan catches fire:
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Don't take any risks. Turn off the heat if it’s safe to do so.
NEVER throw water over it.
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Don’t tackle the fire yourself.
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GET OUT, STAY OUT, CALL 999.
In closing, Group Manager Prust said “Repeatedly attending fires and seeing people make the same mistakes, places a responsibility on us to communicate the risk of death and injury. We hope that by working with others at a local and national level we will start to see a reduction in these, all too preventable accidents.” |
ST VALENTINES DAY 2009
Your Fire and Rescue Service has come up with a unique idea on how to express your love this February 14th.
Losing no opportunity to promote fire safety Ian Prust, Group Manager Community Safety of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: “Buy them a smoke alarm. For just a few pounds you can give them a gift, which says, “I could never live without you.” If they have got one, test it and if necessary change the battery.
Pointing out the serious side of this message Group Manager Prust said: “Many young people, especially students, live alone and may not have smoke alarms fitted. If a fire starts, smoke alarms give you the necessary early warning that will ensure you see your loved one once more. If you think that a smoke alarm doesn't sound very romantic why not add a dozen red roses! |
BIG INCREASE IN TUMBLE DRYER FIRES
Hereford and Worcester Fire Service have issued a warning about unattended tumble dryers that over heat putting lives at risk and causing serious fire damage to property. Firefighters attended 27 tumble dryer fires in 2008 bringing the total to 100 in the past four years in homes and properties across the two counties.
Ian Prust, Group Manager, Community Fire Safety, said, “We are appealing to occupants to take a few simple steps to ensure that they use their tumble dryers in a safe way which are:
• Never overload the tumble dryer
• Never leave it on whilst you are in bed or go out
• Do not set the programme too long
• Clean the filters regularly
“By carrying out these simple precautions you should reduce the risk of a tumble dryer overheating and catching fire. Also always ensure that you have a working smoke alarm installed and maintained.” |
Twelve hour operation to clear up M5 lorry fire
Crews from Worcester, Droitwich, Evesham, Bewdley and a USAR team were engaged for 12 hours following a lorry fire on the M5 northbound carriageway near junction 6 on Monday February 9th. Crews also had to decant approx 400 litres of fuel from the lorry which was carrying 25 pallets loaded with 12 tonnes of magazines.
Line rescue team in hillside car driver rescue
A woman driver was rescued by crews from Ledbury and the line rescue team from Malvern after her Ford Ka left the road and plunged 30 feet down the hillside on the B4218 at Chances Pitch, British Camp,shortly before midnight on Tuesday February 10th. The driver was trapped in the car, which was on its side, having hit a tree which stopped the vehicle from rolling further. Ledbury crews removed the roof of the vehicle and the driver, who was conscious, was put on a spine board and pulled back to the road by the line rescue team. She was taken to hospital by ambulance. The road conditions were icy at the time of the incident.
Electric wheelchair fire
A 25 year old man was treated for smoke inhalation after his electric wheelchair caught fire in Wensleydale Drive, Worcester on the afternoon of Sunday February 8th. Crews from Worcester assisted ambulance staff to remove the man from the chair using a hoist. |
4 February 2009 |
TAKE EXTRA CARE ON THE ROADS AS TEMPERATURES DROP
West Mercia Constabulary is reminding drivers to take extra care on the roads as snow, sleet and low temperatures are forecast for the week ahead.
The change in weather is likely to make driving conditions more hazardous across Herefordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire and Telford & Wrekin so motorists are advised to be prepared and adjust their driving accordingly.
Driving too quickly in bad weather conditions can lead to serious injury and fatal collisions. Motorists can help avoid becoming involved in these types of collisions by reducing their speed and driving with more caution.
Sergeant John Roberts from West Mercia Constabulary says: “It is important for motorists to remember that carrying out normal, everyday manoeuvres takes longer when the surface of the road is wet, icy or covered in snow. Braking in these conditions takes up to ten times longer than braking on a dry road. It is vital that motorists slow down and allow extra time to break and stop.
“Drivers should be mindful that not all roads are gritted by the local highways authorities and in any case, gritting a road does not mean it is safe. Roads can re-freeze after being gritted so it is safer to treat every road as ungritted and drive in accordance with the conditions.”
“The key message for motorists is to carry out manoeuvres carefully, avoiding harsh braking and acceleration. Collisions often occur when motorists lose control of their vehicles and start skidding across the road, so it is vital that motorists reduce their speed when driving in poor conditions so they don’t end up injuring themselves or other road users.”
When preparing to drive in wintry conditions:
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Check the local and national weather forecasts
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Listen to local and national radio stations for up to date travel information
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Tell someone at your destination what time you expect to arrive
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2 February 2009 |
Report Recommends Review Work Should Be Put On Hold
A report which has examined the potential for closer working between Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Authority is recommending that further review work should be suspended due to current financial uncertainties.
Whilst considerable progress has been made on the joint review of both Services, there are still areas of uncertainty in respect of the liabilities and costs that would rest with a new Authority – which could impact Council Taxes across Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire.
“Whilst this review has been an extremely valuable exercise these uncertainties mean that neither Authority is in a position to formally conclude the work with the degree of confidence necessary to support a final determination at this time,” said Paul Hayden, Chief Fire Officer of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.
Each Fire Authority will consider a recommendation at their main meetings in February to put further work on the joint review on hold for the time being, and to keep the position under periodic review to identify opportunities to finalise it at some point in the future. |
2009 News Archive |
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2008 News Archive |
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