News Headlines... June 2010
To go straight to any of June's news click on the links below.
Swimming Event | Have your say | Stolen Lorry Fire | Woodland fire | Three Counties Show | Pub Fire | Three rescued | Swimming Championships | Farm Fire | Lorry Fire | Tackling Road Safety | Queen's Service Medal for Chief | Deadly Summer Swim Warning | Fire Numbers Fall | Redditch Garage Fire | Hereford Garage Fire | Flat Fire | Flat Rescue
Fire Service host successful swimming event
Tuesday 29 June, 2010
Representatives from 15 different Fire Services around the country took part in a prestigious swimming event hosted by Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) at the weekend.
The Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association (FSSAA) National Swimming Championships took place on Saturday 26 June at Worcester Swimming Pool in Sansome Walk, Worcester. A post-competition reception and medal ceremony followed at Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Headquarters, off Charles Hastings Way, Worcester.
The competition is the premiere annual event in the Fire Service swimming calendar, and includes Open and Masters events for both men and women. Swimmers from London Fire Brigade were the overall winners of this year’s Championships but many participants, including several from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, achieved Personal Bests (PBs).
James Bainbridge, Watch Manager at Training and Development Centre, based at Droitwich, swam in Saturday’s competition and also helped in the organisation of the event. He said: “We always look forward to this event and this year’s Championships certainly lived up to expectations. The quality of the swimming was very high and we’d like to pass on our congratulations to everyone who participated, particularly those who swam in the winning team from London.
“We’d also like to thank everyone who helped to make the day so successful, with our local Young Firefighters deserving a special mention.
“Station Manager Ian Jallands, based at HWFRS headquarters, swam particularly well for the Hereford & Worcester team, and achieved several PBs.”
Teams from as far north as Strathclyde and as far south as Cornwall took part, and while numbers were slightly down on previous years, there were more female competitors than ever, as well as 24 Competition Best Times achieved.
The FSSAA National Swimming Championships are run with assistance from the National Swimming Section and their representative Samantha Morris, from Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service, added: “We’d like to pass on our thanks to Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service for hosting the competition, particularly Watch Manager James Bainbridge for his commitment and hard work and Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates for his support throughout.
“We would also like to add our congratulations to the swimmers from London Fire Brigade and indeed to all participants for making it such a successful event. We’re very much looking forward to next year’s competition, scheduled to take place in Lincolnshire. It will be held over two days and will include water polo for the first time. This is sure to bring an extra edge to the competition and no doubt firefighters from across the UK will rise to the new challenge this will offer!”
Further information on the FSSAA can be found at www.fssaa.co.uk, and the Swimming Section at http://www.fssaa.co.uk/swimming.htm
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Fire Authority urges residents to have their say
Tuesday 29 June, 2010
Residents in Herefordshire and Worcestershire are being urged to have their say on the way the Fire Service is set to run.
At a meeting held on Friday 25 June, Members of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority formally approved the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) 2011/12 for consultation.
The IRMP action plan for 2011/12 sets out a broad range of priorities for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and a 12-week consultation period is now open to gauge opinions on the seven key recommendations outlined in the document.
These include:
- A review during 2011/12 of the impact of the recent changes in Technical Fire Safety arrangements to ensure that the anticipated benefits are being fully realised.
- A review of the allocation of community safety resources to ensure the best fit of activities to risk. This will maximise our ability to reduce risk in our communities.
- Reducing our attendance at Automatic Fire Alarms (AFAs) through a review of our policies and procedures and the implementation of our findings.
- A review of our fire cover and response arrangements with a focus on:
- The requirement for a third appliance at Hereford, Worcester and Redditch.
- The current crewing arrangements at Bromsgrove.
- The appropriate number of personnel on each watch at wholetime and day crewed stations.
- Ensuring that our Property Strategy is fully aligned to our IRMP proposals including Recommendation No. 4 and other aspects of Service Delivery, such as the provision of effective operational training.
- We will consider our current operational training strategy and provision to identify any potential for improvement in both effectiveness and efficiency, and implement any appropriate changes.
- We will review our approach to environmental issues to ensure that we are maximising the potential partnership working in this area, reducing our energy usage and identifying further opportunities for cost efficiency.
Chief Fire Officer with Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, Mark Yates said: "The recommendations in the report follow a detailed evaluation of our current prevention, protection and response arrangements and take into account input from our District Commanders, District Community Safety Staff and our Firefighters in order to capture local knowledge and risk information.
"We always strive to give the highest level of service we possibly can with the resources available to us and we want to ensure any changes we make enhance the work and reputation of the organisation. It's important now that we get feedback from the community and we would urge everyone to take a look at these IRMP recommendations and to respond to our consultation questionnaire."
Brigadier Peter Jones CBE, who was elected Chair of the Fire Authority for a further 12 months at Friday's meeting, said: "These are only draft proposals at this stage and it's vital that we gauge the opinions of residents living within the two counties and incorporate these into the plan. The consultation is open to everyone until 20th September and all opinions will be fed back to the Authority before any final decisions are made."
The current Vice Chair of the Fire Authority, Stephen Clee, was also re-elected for a further year during Friday's meeting, while congratulations were passed to Simon Hawkins from Bromsgrove, who was named Firefighter of the Year 2010 at a national awards ceremony in London on 4 June.
The Equality Scheme – a commitment from the Fire Service to deliver equality and diversity for all employees and the communities it serves - was also approved and adopted at the meeting.
A copy of the IRMP consultation document can be found online at www.hwfire.org.uk under the 'Our Publications' heading, while printed copies will be available from local fires stations across Herefordshire and Worcestershire and at community events the Fire Service attends over the summer months. Residents are encouraged to give their feedback by completing and returning the questionnaire section of the document. The IRMP action plan will then be aligned with the consultation results and submitted to the Fire and Rescue Authority at its December meeting.
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Stolen Lorry Fire
Friday 25 June, 2010
At 00:31am on Friday 25 June, 2010 Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to a lorry fire on the A465, Llangua, near Pontrilas.
Fire appliances from Hereford, Ewyas Harold, and Peterchurch were initially mobilised. Ewyas Harold was first on scene and found the cab of an articulated lorry well alight. Fire crews wore breathing apparatus and used high pressure foam to tackle the flames and extinguish the blaze before using manual hydraulic cutting equipment to gain access to the vehicle.
After a search, all persons were accounted for and environmental packs were used to prevent foam entering the watercourse.
Liaison with West Mercia Police confirmed the vehicle to be stolen. Anyone with information that may assist West Mercia Police can call the duty inspector for Herefordshire on Tel: 0300 3333 000 (ext 4760) or, Crime Stoppers on Tel: 0800 555 111
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Woodland fire at Tedstone Delamere
Friday 25 June, 2010
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service were called to a large woodland fire at Pix Hill in Tedstone Delamere, near Bromyard, at 9:48am on Thursday 24 June 2010.
Two fire appliances from Bromyard attended along with one from Worcester and one from Malvern. A water carrier from Bewdley was also used along with two off-road Argocat and two Pinzgauer vehicles, from Stourport and Malvern.
The fire had started as controlled burning with fire breaks in approximately 5-10 hectares of woodland that had been cleared by a tree felling company. As the fire took hold, and due to the conditions, the fire cleared the fire brakes in several locations.
Firefighters used water and beaters to manage the controlled burning and prevent further spread of the fire whilst limiting the amount of smoke that was drifting towards nearby properties.
Station Manager Phil Russell said, “It is important to take account of the prevailing conditions before starting any fire – especially in the hot dry weather which we are currently experiencing.”
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service anticipate the incident to be concluded by lunchtime today (Friday 25 June, 2010).
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Successful Three Counties Show for Emergency
Services
Monday 21 June, 2010
Representatives from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) say that their presence at this year’s Three Counties Show has helped showcase the work they do in partnership with the other emergency services, and hopefully will also encourage more people to consider career and volunteering opportunities with each organisation.
HWFRS joined West Mercia Police and First Responder staff from West Midlands Search and Rescue at the Emergency Services Village at the show, where the theme for the stand was road safety.
Station Manager at Malvern Fire Station, Mark Forsbrook, who helped organise the event, said: “We had literally hundreds of visitors to our stand over each of the three days and everyone seemed very interested to learn more about the work of the emergency services.
“Our focus was on road safety and we found that young people in particular were happy to take part in some of the activities we had devised - such as using ‘beer goggles’ to simulate the effects of how drink or drugs might impair their ability to drive – helping us get important road safety messages across in a safe and memorable manner.
“We also set up a series of mock rescues following a road traffic collision where a driver had been distracted by using a hand held mobile phone whilst driving. This attracted a lot of attention and while it highlighted the consequences of bad driving, it also allowed us to demonstrate the role of each of the emergency services and how we all work together during such incidents.
“The event also gave us an opportunity to explain more about what being an on-call firefighter involves and we are hopeful that we will attract more women and men who live or work close to a rural fire station to join the Fire Service.”
Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates visited the emergency services stand at the show and said: “I was delighted to see the level of interest shown by members of the public in relation to the work that all the emergency services carry out. All three blue light agencies work together on a daily basis and the displays at the show were an extension of this work. We are always on the lookout for new on-call firefighters and I hope our attendance at the Three Counties Show has sparked some interest in this vital community role."
More information about becoming an on-call firefighter with HWFRS is available on our website.
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Fire at Worcester pub
Monday 21 June, 2010
Firefighters are working with the police to establish the cause of a fire at a Worcester pub at the weekend.
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service were called to the Virgin Tavern in Tolladine Road, Worcester, shortly before 12.30am on Saturday 19 June following reports of a fire at the premises, which were believed to be occupied at the time.
it took the five fire crews attending (three from Worcester and two from Droitwich) just over three hours to bring the fire under control and extensive damage was caused to the bar area on the ground floor of the pub.
One man was rescued from the first floor of the building using a ladder. He is not thought to have suffered any serious injury as a result of the fire.
The two firefighters involved in the rescue received medical treatment from ambulance staff at the scene for the effects of smoke inhalation.
It is believed that the fire had been started deliberately and investigations are continuing.
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Three rescued in Hereford house fire
Monday 21 June, 2010
Three people have been rescued from a house fire in Hereford this morning (Monday 21 June).
Three pumps from Hereford and one from Fownhope attended the fire at flats in Friar Court, off Friars Street, shortly after 9am, and firefighters rescued three people, two males and a female, from the second floor of the building.
Specialist equipment including breathing apparatus, 9-metre ladders, a hose reel jet and positive pressure ventilation (a fan to blow out the smoke) were used during the rescue.
New Hereford Watch Manager Guy Palmer, who had literally just started his very first watch at the station as the call came though, explained: "We were alerted to the fire at 9am this morning and fire crews were at the scene within minutes, rescuing three people from flats on the second floor of the burning building.
"Thankfully no one was injured but this will certainly be a memorable first day for me as new Watch Manager.
"While the days and months ahead may not be quite so dramatic, I'm happy to have joined an experienced team here in Hereford and I'm looking forward to working with them."
The central stairwell of the building was damaged during the fire and firefighters are working closely with the police to establish exactly how the fire started.
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Fire Service to host National Swimming Championships
Monday 21 June, 2010
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service are proud to be hosting a prestigious swimming event in Worcester later this month.
The Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association (FSSAA) National Swimming Championships will be held at Worcester Swimming Pool in Sansome Walk, Worcester on Saturday 26 June.
The competition is the premiere annual event in the Fire Service swimming calendar, typically attracting up to 150 swimmers from Fire and Rescue Services around the UK.
The Championships include Open and Masters events for both men and women.
The competition will start at 10am on the Saturday morning and is expected to last until around 4pm. Those attending will then travel the short distance from Worcester Swimming Pool across to Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Headquarters, off Charles Hastings Way, for a post-competition reception and the medal ceremony.
James Bainbridge, Watch Manager at Training and Development Centre, based at Droitwich Fire Station, has been involved in the organisation of the event and will be swimming himself. He explained: “This has been a fantastic competition over recent years and we are proud to be hosting the event on 26 June.
“The quality of the swimming is always very high and we hope that local people will come along to the pool to support the event and encourage those participating.”
Spectators will be admitted free of charge to the event.
The FSSAA National Swimming Championships are run with assistance from the National Swimming Section and their representative Samantha Morris, from Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service, added: “This is a great opportunity for Fire and Rescue services from all over the country to compete against each other, but also to get together and meet other people from the Service. It is a pleasure to organise and be part of such a successful competition. The Fire service is full of talented sports people and it is fantastic to maintain and develop the competitive edge that firefighters have.”
Further information on the FSSAA can be found at www.fssaa.co.uk, and the Swimming Section at http://www.fssaa.co.uk/swimming.htm
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Fire at farm near Ross-on-Wye
Thursday 17 June, 2010
Firefighters from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service were called to a fire at a farm in Baysham, Ross-on-Wye, at around 10.45pm last night (Wednesday 16 June).
Two pumps and a water carrier from Ross-on-Wye attended along with a specialist crew from Whitchurch who used foam to put out the fire, as it involved up to 100 tonnes of agricultural waste and a large quantity of tyres. Machinery at the farm was also used to turn over the waste and help dampen down the fire.
The Environment Agency was also alerted.
The fire was fully extinguished by 1am this morning (Thursday 17 June).
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M5 Lorry Fire
Firefighters from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service attended a serious lorry fire on the M5 in North Worcestershire yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 16 June).
They were called shortly after 3pm following reports that an articulated lorry was on fire on the northbound carriageway of the motorway between J4 at Lydiate Ash and J3 at Quinton.
Fire appliances from Bromsgrove attended along with crews from West Midlands Fire Service, while water pumps provided extra water at the scene.
The fire, which had spread to an adjacent field, was brought under control by 4.40pm.
The Sainsbury's lorry was totally burnt out as a result of the fire.
Three photographs taken at the scene are attached, courtesy of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.
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Fire, Police and Ambulance Tackle Road Safety
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Our local Emergency Services are joining forces at this year's Three Counties Agricultural Show. Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, West Mercia Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service are proud to be a part of the Emergency Services Village at the Show, and they are looking forward to welcoming even more visitors than usual with advance ticket sales for this year's Three Counties Show, reportedly being up by almost 25%.
A disproportionate number of young and vulnerable individuals are killed or seriously injured on rural roads, so the main theme for the stand at this year's show is rural road safety. There will be various activities taking place throughout the three days for all age groups focusing on road safety and for the younger visitors our schools education team will be on hand with a range of activities which will help youngsters to learn about road safety in a fun-filled and friendly environment.
West Midlands Ambulance Service will be involved with Community First Responders giving members of the public advice on vital life saving skills, and they hope to bring along a fast response car or ambulance depending on operational availability.
West Mercia Police will have a significant presence alongside the Fire and Rescue Service. Every neighbourhood in West Mercia has a dedicated local policing team and you will be able to find out more about your team and the work they are doing in your area.
West Mercia Police supports the activity of thousands of members of watch schemes. Find out more about Neighbourhood Watch schemes in your area, and for those living in rural communities why not sign up to Rural Watch to receive regular updates about crime, incidents and events in your area.
If anyone is looking for an opportunity to give something back to the community, visitors will be able to learn more about the volunteering opportunities within West Mercia Police and the Fire and Rescue Service. There will be staff on hand to give advice on how to make a valuable contribution to your community by being an on-call Firefighter.
Station Manager, Mark Forsbrook said "We are very pleased to be a part of this years show and the Emergency Services Village is larger than ever with the presence of the Police and the Ambulance Service. The event gives us an opportunity to show the community the kind of work we are all involved in whilst having an enjoyable time. We hope that people learn more about our Services' and in particular about rural road safety".
So, if anyone wants to meet members of the Emergency Services, then visit Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service at the Three Counties Show 2010.
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Chief Fire Officer Awarded Queen's Fire Service Medal
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service's Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates has been awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
CFO Yates, who has held the position in Hereford and Worcester since April, receives the award in recognition of his distinguished service throughout his career.
Mr Yates started his career in 1984 with Cornwall County Fire Brigade before moving to Hertfordshire in 2005 where he held the position of Deputy Chief Fire Officer. His position there saw him lead operations as incident commander during the Buncefield Oil Depot Fire – thought to be the largest fire of its kind in peacetime Europe.
Brigadier Peter Jones, CBE, Chairman of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Authority, congratulated CFO Yates for receiving his award. "I am delighted that Mark has received this prestigious award in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. "This is testament to the hard work and commitment he has given to the Fire Service throughout his career. We are also delighted that he is now our Chief Fire Officer looking after Herefordshire and Worcestershire."
CFO Yates said he is thrilled to have received the medal for his work in the Fire Service during his 26 year career.
"It is an honour to receive the award, although I would also like to pay tribute to my colleagues who have worked with me over the years," he said. "I have been lucky enough to have been supported by many dedicated fire officers and support staff over the years and this award is also recognition for them."
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Police And Fire Warn Taking A Dip Could Be Deadly
Police and fire officers have warned residents not to be tempted by taking a cooling swim in open water, no matter how inviting it may seem.
When hot weather comes some feel the area's rivers and quarry pools offer a refreshing chance to cool off but officers have warned taking a dip in these waters could be deadly.
Particular concerns have been raised about people using the social network site Facebook to plan summer dips at Gullet Quarry in the Malvern Hills, where there have previously been fatalities among would-be swimmers.
Geographical Inspector for Malvern Hills Clive Griffiths, said: "When summer temperatures rise it is easy to understand the inviting prospect of a dip but swimming in unauthorised, unsupervised stretches of water is fraught with danger. It is often impossible to gauge the depths of these waters and where water levels are unknown, jumping or diving in can cause serious injury or drowning. Water can also be very cold, in stark contrast to the high air and body temperatures, this sudden change in temperature when entering the water can create serious problems for swimmers. Sadly, there is a history of serious injuries - and, indeed, fatalities - a result of being drawn to the water, so officers' firm advice is ‘do not be tempted'.
Inspector Griffiths added: "We urge everyone, irrespective of how strong a swimmer they are, not to be tempted to enter any of these waters no matter how hot it gets - it could be a matter of life and death."
Launa Walker, Community Safety Manager for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, is also urging young people to think twice before jumping into open water to cool off.
"We are genuinely very concerned to hear that young people are planning to meet at Gullet Quarry in Malvern and intend to swim in the water," she said. "Whilst the prospect of cooling off in water with your friends seems attractive, the consequences could literally be fatal. "Sadly our firefighters know only too well what can happen if you get out of your depth. Water can be very deceiving, so whilst I would not want to discourage people from enjoying the good weather, I would urge them not to enter open water."
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Performance Report Shows Fire Numbers Continue to Fall
The total number of fires in Herefordshire and Worcestershire has fallen by nearly a third over the last few years, according to a report which was recently published.
In 2009/2010 Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service (HWFRS) saw a 32 per cent reduction in all fires compared to 2006/2007 and deliberate primary* fires have fallen from 488 in 2006/7 to 257 in 2009/10.
Chief Fire Officer Mark Yates said he is pleased to see that there are less fires occurring in the two counties. “It is good to see that the number of fires we are attending each year is decreasing,” he said. “As a Service we work hard to keep people as safe as possible in their homes – last year we carried out 2,280 free home fire safety checks where we advise people on how to keep safe from fire. We know how important it is to stop fires happening in the first place and this is very much our focus.
“Our performance figures pay testament to the hard work carried out across our Service by our firefighters and support staff.”
The Service’s Annual Performance Report 2009/10 also confirms that much work has been done to deliver activities which aim to target arson reduction. As a result of this work strong links have been forged with West Mercia Constabulary and local policing teams.
The report states that HWFRS is a low cost, high performing Combined Fire Authority (CFA) operating with a grant settlement which continues to be the lowest per head of all of the 24 CFAs. The Service’s last Operational Assessment also confirmed that the organisation is operationally effective and meeting its statutory duties.
“It is true that our budget settlements continue to be challenging,” said CFO Yates, “but nonetheless we are continuing to provide an excellent service to the residents of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Our Organisational Assessment, which was carried out by the Audit Commission last year, confirmed that our Service is ‘performing well’ and achieving its main priority – to keep people safe from fire.
“Even though this reports shows that we are performing well there is always more work to be done and we certainly won’t be complacent. I intend to look at all areas of our Service to ensure that we are providing the best service we possibly can.”
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Redditch Garage Fire
At 15:21 hrs on Wednesday 9th May 2010, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service received a number of calls reporting a garage fire at motor service premises in Hewell Road, Redditch, Worcestershire. A total of four crews from Redditch (3) and Bromsgrove (1) fire stations attended the incident along with a supporting officer.
On arrival crews found the fire had affected a 4-bay garage split by breeze-blocks with a car on ramps and approximately half of the premises well alight. Firefighters used breathing apparatus and hose-reels to bring the fire under control and also extinguish the vehicle fire. Positive pressure ventilation was then used to clear the smoke from affected areas.
Station Manager Dan Quinn of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said;
“The prompt action and early intervention of both whole-time and on-call crews prevented the situation worsening – and, I would also like to thank our local employers who release staff as on-call firefighters to protect our local community.”
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Hereford Garage Fire
At 03:57 hrs on Thursday 10th May 2010, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Service received a number of calls reporting a garage fire in Cagebrook Avenue, Hereford. Two crews from Hereford fire station attended along with a supporting officer.
On arrival crews found a fire in a garage with an asbestos roof. The fire was tackled, firefighters advised nearby residents and the incident was controlled by damping down and minimising the break-up of roof materials. Herefordshire Housing was advised of the incident and attended the scene.
No-one was injured and the incident was left with a representative from Herefordshire Housing.
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Kidderminster Flat Fire
Firefighters rescued a man from a property in Park Street Kidderminster on Wednesday evening (June 2).
On arrival at the property, at just after 8.30pm, fire crews from Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley found that there was a fire in the hallway of a ground floor flat. Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the flat and found a man in the lounge. They rescued him from the property where he was passed to paramedics at the scene and then taken to hospital. The stop message was given at just before 9.30pm and the cause of the fire is now under investigation.
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Man rescued from Malvern Flat
A man was rescued from a flat in Worcester Road, Malvern, on Wednesday evening (June 2).
On arrival at the property, at just before 5.30pm, firefighters heard an automatic fire alarm sounding and saw smoke coming through the door of a second floor flat. Once inside the property crews found a man on a bedroom floor and rescued him from the premises. The stop message was given at 6.10pm last night and a fire investigation officer was called to the scene. The officer determined that there had not been a fire at the property but a dry powder extinguisher had been used within the property, which caused the 'smoke' to fill the property. The male occupant was taken to hospital by the ambulance service.