Stay Safe this Bonfire Night
USAR Stabilise House
Deer Rescue
Young Driver Scheme
Three Car Collision
Firefighters Stop Fire Spreading
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OCTOBER 2009
To go straight to any of October's news items just click on the links to the left.
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Stay Safe this Bonfire Night
In the lead up to bonfire night, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to stay safe and enjoy the celebrations.
Fireworks and bonfire evenings can provide much entertainment so long as everyone follows the right safety procedures and remembers that fireworks can be dangerous if misused.
Launa Walker, Community Safety Manager for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said: ‘Thankfully most people enjoy a fun and hazard free bonfire night. However, please remember that a simple sparkler can burn up to a temperature of 2000 degrees centigrade, so they should NEVER be given to children under the age of five.
“If you are having your own celebration please use common sense and follow some simple safety tips to help you and your loved ones avoid injuries or damage to your property. We would recommend that you ideally attend an organised public display.”
Firework safety tips:
- Plan your firework display to make it safe and enjoyable.
- Only buy fireworks marked with British Standard Kitemark BS 7114.
- Don’t drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
- Keep fireworks in a closed metal box and take them out one at a time.
- Always follow the instructions carefully when using them. Read them in daylight or by torchlight, never by a naked flame.
- Light the firework at arm’s length with a taper and stand well back.
- Keep naked flames, including cigarettes, away from fireworks.
- Never go back to fireworks once they are lit. Even if it hasn’t gone off, it could still explode.
- Never throw fireworks and don’t put them in your pocket.
- Always supervise children around fireworks and never give sparklers to children under five. Even when they have gone out they are still hot so put them in a bucket of water after use.
Bonfire safety tips:
- Never use flammable liquids to help start a bonfire and never burn dangerous items such as aerosol cans, paint tins, foam furniture or batteries.
- Build your bonfire well clear of buildings, garden sheds, fences, hedges and overhanging branches.
- Keep bonfires to a manageable size and evenly built so that they collapse inwards as they burn.
- Always check the bonfire’s construction is still sound prior to lighting it, that there are no children or animals inside and that hazardous items such as aerosols and fireworks have not been thrown onto it.
- Bonfires should be lit after the firework display unless positioned sufficiently far away to ensure stray sparks from the bonfire cannot fall into the firework area.
- Don’t leave bonfires unattended. An adult should supervise it until it has burnt out. If it has to be left, damp it down with water. Always keep a bucket of water or a hosepipe nearby in case of emergency.
- Make sure that the fire is out and surroundings are made safe before leaving.
Enjoy your fireworks event!
Issued by Samantha Jones, Media and Communications Manager on 01905 368409.
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USAR help stabilise house after collision
Technicians from our Urban Search and Rescue Team and Firefighters from Kingsland, Leominster and Leintwardine attended an incident in Herefordshire after a lorry was in collision with a house. For more information please click here: http://www.herefordtimes.com/news
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“Craig” the Monkjack Deer Rescued by Firefighters.
A distressed monkjack deer was rescued by Redditch firefighters after his body became trapped in railings near a canal in Alvechurch.
The deer, who has been christened “Craig” after the firefighter who rescued him, is now recuperating with the RSPCA.
The incident took place on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 5.38pm at Heron Close, Alvechurch.
Watch Manager Rob Allen said: “It looked like the deer had made a run for it and misjudged the gap and was stuck because his hips wouldn't go through. We calmed him by wrapping him in a salvage sheet and then used a hand tool to open the bars enough to get him out. He or "Craig" as we have called him had removed the fur on either side of his body and was in a bit of distress. We looked after him until the RSPCA arrived.”
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Driver scheme steers young drivers in the right direction
Teenagers living in Malvern Hills can now gain valuable driving experience before they start proper driving lessons.
Worcestershire Advanced Motorists have been running their Young Driver Scheme at County Hall, Worcester, for many years and tuition is provided by their members. In a new link with Malvern Hills Community Safety Group, teenagers aged 15 and 16 in Malvern Hills can pay £10 per session instead of the usual £19.
The subsidy scheme is part of the Community Safety Strategy. Road safety has been chosen as one of the main priorities and this is just one of several new ideas being implemented.
Brian Thompson, a Community Safety Advisor for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, and a member of the Malvern Hills Community Safety Group said: “Rural driving is different from town driving and very few learner drivers gain any experience of it because all driving tests take place in towns or cities.
“Recognising that Malvern Hills District is a largely rural area, a focus on rural driving has been included and every applicant will be sent an advice sheet on this and asked to discuss it with the instructor.”
Tuition takes place on Sundays on the private land around County Hall and the advanced instructor’s own insurance provides cover for the young people. Young people wishing to take part in the scheme should apply to Brian Thompson, Malvern Fire Station, Worcester Rd, Malvern, WR14 1TD or email bthompson@hwfire.org.uk or call 07795 238197.
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Three cars involved in Holt Heath Collision
Three fire crews from Worcester were called to a road traffic collision on the Worcester Road, at Holt Heath, on Thursday, October 22.
Three cars were involved in the incident, which happened at 5.39pm. One casualty was released from a vehicle by Firefighters and three people were taken to hospital.
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Firefighters Stop Fire Spreading in Hereford
Two crews from Hereford managed to stop a fire causing serious damage to a shop in Hereford in the early hours of Thursday, October 22.
The fire actually involved two minibuses and one catering trailer, which were all well alight when Firefighters from Hereford attended. The crews used three hose reels and one jet to bring the fire under control. Station Manager Neil Lilwall said the crews work quickly and very hard and managed to stop the fire spreading to the roof of a nearby shop.
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Minibus and Car Involved in Fire
One minibus and one car were both well alight when Firefighters arrived at an incident in Whipp Street, Redditch.
The fire, which happened on Wednesday, October 21, at 8.13pm, was attended by crews from Redditch. The stop message was given at 8.43pm.
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Door Removed to Free Casualty
Two fire crews from Kidderminster attended a road traffic collision on the B4189 at Wolverley on Wednesday, October 21 at 4.41pm.
One person was medically trapped in a vehicle so Firefighters removed a door to release them. The vehicle was made safe and the stop message was given at 5.11pm
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One Person Released from Vehicle in RTC
One heavy goods vehicle and a car were in collision on the A442 at Podmoor on Tuesday, October 20.
The incident happened at 5.07pm and on arrival one person was medically trapped in a vehicle. Once the crews from Kidderminster and Droitwich had released the casualty and made the scene safe they left the incident with the police.
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Snake Eye Camera Used at Chimney Fire
Firefighters from Leintwardine, Kingsland, Hereford and USAR attended a chimney fire at Walford, Leintwardine on Tuesday, October 20.
The incident happened at just before 6pm and on arrival Firefighters found smoke was travelling through the brick work. The crews cut away part of a beam and used a snake eye camera to inspect the flue.
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2009 News Archive |
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2008 News Archive |
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