News Headlines... April 2010
To go straight to any of April's news click on the links below.
Lorry Fire | Lucky Escape | Redditch House | Suspicious Redditch Fire | Poney Rescue | Sports Ground Fire | Malvern College Fire | Hereford House Fire | Pershore Factory Blaze
Firefighters attend lorry fire
Firefighters from Redditch and Bromsgrove were called out to a lorry fire at Hopwood Services which occurred during the night at approximately 11.30pm on Monday 26th April 2010 at the Hopwood Services on the M42, when a fire broke out in the engine compartment of a small furniture removals lorry.
Firefighters had to raise the cab of the vehicle to access the fire, which was fully dealt with within 45 minutes. The two occupants of the lorry were unharmed.
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Lucky Escape
At 03:58Hrs, on Sunday 25th April 2010, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a collision involving a vehicle which had left the road and collided with a domestic property in Gateway Lane, Leominster, Herefordshire.
Firefighters from Leominster attended the incident along with the Incident Response Unit and Incident Support Unit teams from Droitwich. On arrival the crews found one saloon car embedded in the ground floor of an end terraced property causing significant damage. No persons were trapped in the vehicle – however, crews had to rescue two people from the roof of the property.
A structural engineer was in attendance before a winch was used to remove the vehicle from the property and the property shored up. The property was later handed over to the landlord.
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Redditch House Fire
At 07:44Hrs, on Thursday 22nd April 2010, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a house fire in Upper Field Close, Redditch, Worcestershire.
The occupier having been alerted by a smoke alarm, had vacated the terraced bungalow prior to the arrival two crews from Redditch Fire Station. Once on scene, fire fighters used breathing apparatus and hose reel to extinguish the fire which had started in an electrical appliance located in the living room. After the fire was extinguished, the smoke was then ventilated.
Paramedics and Police were also in attendance.
Duty Station Manager Steve Fox of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said:
“This incident clearly demonstrates the benefit of having working smoke alarms in your home –warning you in time to escape before intoxicating smoke and fire spreads. Smoke alarms should be checked every week and if the battery needs changing –then change it immediately.
Further information about fire safety can be obtained by calling Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service’s FREEPHONE NUMBER 0800 032 1155.
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Suspicious Redditch Fire
At 19:27Hrs, on Wednesday 21st April 2010, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a grass fire in the vicinity of a large industrial premises in Madeley Road, Redditch, Worcestershire.
Firefighters from Redditch attended the scene and found two seats of fire each covering an area of approximately one square meter and extinguished the flames. Police have confirmed that they are investigating this incident, and say it had the potential to be far more serious than it actually was. Officers have already spoken to some witnesses but are urging anyone else who saw people near the site in Madeley Road on Wednesday evening or who has any information regarding the fire, to pass this on to them as soon as they can.
Watch Manager Ade Taylor, Arson Reduction Manager with Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: “We are concerned about the potential danger that these fires pose to the local community, the local economy and the fire crews called out to deal with them.
“We’re working alongside West Mercia Police to investigate them. Anyone wanting to forward information about the fires can do so in confidence by calling 01905 368222.”
Anyone with information about this incident can call Redditch police station on 0300 333 3000 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Pony Rescued By Worcestershire Firefighters 
At 17:27Hrs, on Monday 19th April 2010, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a pony stuck in mud half way up his body near a brook in Shell Mill Himbleton, Worcestershire. Crews from Droitwich and Worcester attended the incident.
Firefighters from Droitwich were first on scene and found a 30 year old male pony called Ginger stuck in mud after he had gone for a drink in the nearby pond. Unfortunately for Ginger, the area surrounding the water was less solid than it first appeared and he sunk in mud until it was half way up his body and found himself stuck and unable to get out without a great deal of assistance.
Once all the crews were in place, firefighters then dug an area around the hind legs of the pony to free them, and then attached strops to Gingers’ rear quarters. At this stage Ginger was a little distressed but, under the direction of the Vet and with a little encouragement from the firefighters he was then able to put in the final bit of effort to help free himself.
Following the rescue, firefighters handed Ginger over to his owner and Vet.
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Fire at Sports Ground
On Sunday 11th April 2010, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to an incident at the Cinderella recreation ground, Boughton Avenue, Bransford, Worcester. Three appliances from Worcester Fire Station attended and extinguished flames affecting garden outbuildings and the surrounding area using a main jet, hose-reels and beaters. The derelict pavilion was saved from damage.
No-one was injured during the incident.
Police are now appealing for information following the fire. The incident took place between 18:00 and 18:10 on Sunday (April 11).
PC Jemma Newman said: “We would like to hear from anyone with any information or who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area around the times given.”
Anyone with information should call police in 0300 333 3000, quoting 599/S/110410, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
*One youth has been arrested on suspicion of arson and remains on police bail while enquiries continue.
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Malvern College Fire
Firefighters from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service spent Saturday night dealing with a severe fire at Malvern College.
At the height of the incident more than 70 firefighters were dealing with the fire, which broke out at around 4am in the morning. The first officer in charge immediately ‘made pumps 10’.
Although the fire took hold of one of the accommodation blocks, fortunately firefighters were able to save around half of the building.
Group Manager Mark Preece said: “On arrival at the scene our firefighters were faced with a very severe fire which had taken hold in one of the accommodation blocks. Thankfully as it is the Easter holidays the block was empty.
“Firefighters worked extremely hard to deal with the fire and thanks to their efforts they managed to create a break in the fire to stop it spreading further.”
Eleven fire engines attended the incident and these included the Aerial Ladder Platform from Worcester Fire Station and the Environmental Protection Unit from Stourport Fire Station.
Eight firefighters wearing Breathing Apparatus sets tackled the fire from inside the building and crews were also dealing with the fire externally.
The stop message was given at just before 9.30am Saturday morning although firefighters are expected to remain on scene for the rest of the day. A fire investigation into the cause of the fire is now underway.
Image by Stuart Brandrick of 'Fire Cover'
magazine.
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Hereford House Fire
Two crews from Hereford attended a house fire in Whitecross Road, Hereford, during the early hours of Friday morning (April 9).
On arrival firefighters found there was a fire in the ground floor kitchen of the terraced house. Four firefighters in breathing apparatus used two hose reels to deal with the fire. Three casualties who were suffering from smoke inhalation were given oxygen at the scene. There were six casualties in total and four were taken to hospital by ambulance.
The stop message was given at just after 4am on Friday morning and two smoke alarms were fitted at the property by the attending firefighters.
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Firefighters Stop Pershore Factory Blaze
At 06:19Hrs on Sunday March 28 2010, Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called to reports of a factory fire at a unit in Racecourse Road, Pershore, Worcestershire.
Local on-call firefighters from Pershore were promptly on scene followed by crews from Broadway, Droitwich, Evesham, Malvern, Pebworth, Redditch, Stourport, Upton and Worcester. In addition to fire appliances, an aerial ladder platform, a command unit, an environmental protection unit and a water carrier were also brought in to tackle the blaze.
On arrival firefighters found the offices at the front of a large factory unit on fire. It was established that gas cylinders and a fuel supply were in the vicinity and, due to explosive risks a 200m cordon was put in place with the assistance of West Mercia Police Officers, whilst fire crews used breathing apparatus and jets to bring the fire under control and prevent the spread of fire to nearby properties.
Throughout the morning over 80 firefighters were brought in to tackle the blaze (including specialist crews). The Environment Agency was present to ensure watercourses remained clear of potential pollutants.
Firefighters were able to stop the spread of fire and by lunchtime damage was limited to the two storey office facilities. The owners were able to recover manufacturing equipment and implement disaster recovery plans –which meant that production could be run a day after the fire.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.