News Archive - May 2008

Date	Press Release Details
24th May 2008	Biker Skills Up - Road Deaths Down Bikers of all ages and experience are invited to attend the Biker Skills Day being held at County Hall, Worcester, on Saturday, May 24. The event is being organised between Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, the Institute of Advanced Motorcyclists and The Safer Roads Partnership with the aim of addressing the worrying statistics that show that motorcyclists make up 1% of road traffic yet make up 18% of all fatalities nationally. Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Jon Hall said: “We want to encourage motorcyclists of all ages and abilities to attend this free event where experts will demonstrate how they can improve their skills and thus save themselves and others from injury or worse.” It is the first event being held at County Hall and follows on from a very successful event of the same kind recently held at Redditch Fire Station where many riders benefited from the ride outs. Station Manager Dave Holland said: “I have been a keen biker for over 30 years and considered myself to be a fairly competent rider. I had a couple of ride outs with an IAM instructor and genuinely felt that my skill level improved and my awareness of my own abilities was greatly enhanced. I would definitely recommend it both as a road safety professional and as a biker.” Bikers from all over the two counties are more than welcome to attend the event held on the County Hall campus access, off Spetchley Road and A4440 Nunnery Way starting at 10am finishing at 4pm. Bikers can turn up on the day to enrol for a ride out or if they prefer they can call the free phone number to reserve a rideout session 0800 032 1155 where they can make a reservation.
8th May 2008	Fire Service Awarded Top International Honour Paul Hayden, Chief Officer of Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and a team of local firefighters, have been awarded a major international award for developing swift water and flood rescue techniques. The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Swiftwater Rescue were established in 1993 by the USA based National Association for Search and Rescue to honour outstanding achievement in technical rescue discipline of swift water and flood rescue. The awards are not for heroism, but recognise preparedness, teamwork, often under extreme conditions where training is vital to the success of the rescue missions, as well as the safety of the rescue personnel and the victims who are being rescued. Flooding is the main cause of weather related death worldwide. Rescuers who lack proper training and equipment are at risk of serious injury and loss of life. The Higgins and Langley Awards have increased awareness for specialised swift water and flood rescue training. As a result, worldwide training certifications have increased and agencies have developed viable water rescue programmes for the protection of the public and the safety of their personnel. Mr Hayden and Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service were nominated for the award by the Chief Fire Officers Association for the work undertaken in the development of a major flood event research project. The Higgins and Langley Programme Development Award recognize agencies that make a significant commitment to education, training and resources to develop the swift water and flood rescue programme. The award will be presented to Mr Hayden at the annual conference of the National Association for Search and Rescue in Colorado Springs, USA, on May 29 – 31.
8th May 2008	Major Fire in Malvern Fire crews from Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service attended a fire at a car tyre and battery workshop in Malvern.Around 30 firefighters attended the incident at Auto Tyre and Battery Company, in Spring Lane at just after 7.30pm on Thursday, May 8. Firefighters from Malvern and Worcester Fire Stations initially attended the call. The Aerial Ladder Platform from Worcester and two water carriers also attended the incident. Relief crews were called to the incident throughout the night. The fire was contained and firefighters stopped the fire spreading to nearby buildings.The cause of the fire is under investigation but at this stage it was not thought to have been started deliberately. Pictures are of the premises and the Aerial Ladder Platform from Worcester Fire Station in action.
8th May 2008	CAR PASSENGER KILLED IN CRASH A male passenger in a Nissan Micra car died when the vehicle collided with a tree at the side of Tillington Road, Hereford at approximately 03.00 hours on Thursday May 8. Two crews from Hereford attended.
8th May 2008	FAMILY OF FOUR ESCAPE FROM HOUSE FIRE A family of four escaped uninjured from a bedroom window of their home early on Thursday May 8 as fire spread up the stairs of their semi detached property at Three Ashes, St Weonards.Two crews from Whitchurch and two from Ross on Wye attended. The fire which started as a result of an electrical fault, caused extensive damage to the ground floor and smoke damage to the adjoining property from which two adults and a child also escaped unhurt.
8th May 2008	CAR PASSENGER KILLED IN CRASH A male passenger in a Nissan Micra car died when the vehicle collided with a tree at the side of Tillington Road, Hereford at approximately 03.00 hours on Thursday May 8. Two crews from Hereford attended.
6th May 2008	CREWS ASSIST POLICE IN TWO RIVER RESCUES A crew from White Watch, Worcester assisted police to rescue a man from the River Severn near the Diglis Hotel,on Monday May 5 and Kidderminster firefighters assisted police in the rescue of a man from the River Stour on Tuesday May 6.
5th May 2008	MOTOR CYCLES DAMAGED IN LEOMINSTER FIRE Several motor cycles and other machinery were damaged in a fire in a shed at Westfield Walk, Leominster on Saturday May 5. Leominster and Kingsland crews used two hose reels and one main jet to extinguish the fire in an hour. The fire is believed to have started by a spark from welding equipment.
5th May 2008	DERELICT PUB FIRE Four appliances from Redditch and Bromsgrove tackled a fire in a derelict public house at Green Lane, Redditch Road, Studley on Saturday May 5. The empty building, consisting of two floors measuring 20 metres by 15 metres,was heavily smoke logged. Four BA and three hose reel jets were in use defensively. The incident was handed over to Warwickshire FRS crews from Alcester and Studley after two hours.The fire was started maliciously. No one was injured.
3rd May 2008	HEREFORD SCRAP YARD FIRE Crews from Hereford, Fownhope, Ewyas Harold, Leominster, Peterchurch and Ross on Wye successfully extinguished a large fire at Wye Valley Metals scrap yard, Holme Lacy Road, Hereford on Saturday May 3. Four monitor jets and two water carriers were used during the three and a half hour operation.
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DON’T LET FIRE BE THE SILENT KILLER

Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service encourages deaf and hard of hearing people to ensure they have specialist smoke alarms. Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and RNID, the national charity which represents the UK’s deaf and hard of hearing people, are joining forces during Deaf Awareness Week (5th-11th May) to urge people with hearing difficulties to be fire safe in the home.
With an estimated one million adults within the UK unable to hear an ordinary smoke alarm on account of deafness or removal of a hearing aid at night. Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents across both counties to check they have the right smoke detection system for their needs. There are an estimated 9 million people in the UK with some form of hearing loss, and this is set to rise as the number of people over the age of 60 increases.
Although many of these people will have only small degrees of hearing loss, Ian Prust, Group Manager –Community Safety explains: “Many people with hearing loss may be at risk when they are not wearing hearing aids or when they are far from their smoke alarm – especially if sleeping with their bedroom door closed. This means they might not be able to hear their smoke alarm if it goes off during the night, which is when the majority of fires in the home occur. “It is vital that in these circumstances people ensure they have the right smoke alarm technology in their home to protect them.
Anyone who is at risk and in doubt about the alarm they need should contact us on 0800 032 1155 for a free Home Fire Safety Check. We are here to help make sure your home is as fire safe as possible.” Home Fire Safety checks are available throughout England, and offer ‘at-risk’ people the opportunity to gain invaluable help from their local Fire and Rescue Services about planning escape routes, positioning alarms and ensuring that the correct, working smoke alarm is fitted in the home. There are a range of specialist alarms available for people who experience hearing difficulties, ranging from alarms with strobe lighting, vibrating alarms, and small wearable radio linked pagers to ensure that wherever you are in the home you will be alerted to your smoke alarm.
Mark Catling, Director of RNID Products, the not-for-profit retail arm of the charity for deaf and hard of hearing people, says, “Many people are losing their hearing and not doing anything about it. However, if you can’t hear your smoke alarm you are putting your life at risk. “Hearing loss may limit a person’s ability to take the quick action necessary to escape during a fire emergency. Therefore it’s vital that deaf and hard of hearing people think about their personal fire safety and ensure they have the right smoke alarm for their needs. “We urge anyone who has doubts about their hearing to take action by calling RNID’s special, five minute telephone hearing check on 0845 600 5555.
Taking this first step could improve your life for the better and ensure you hear important sounds such as smoke alarms for longer.” British Standard BS5446-3:2005, which was amended in 2007, specifies smoke alarm kits for deaf and hard of hearing people. Products made to this standard give deaf people assurance of quality smoke alarms designed to meet their needs.
For further information about smoke alarms for deaf and hard of hearing people, please contact RNID Products on telephone 01733 361199, textphone 01733 238020 or visit www.rnid.org.uk/shop. For more information on fire safety please visit www.direct.gov.uk/firekills For further information, please contact Krishani Ranaweera, Senior Media Relations Officer at RNID, on telephone/textphone: 020 7296 8137 or email: krishani.ranaweera@rnid.org.uk

RNID is committed to improving the lives of people who are deaf or hard of hearing and aims to ensure they are able to live independently. By working in partnership with the Fire Kills campaign, RNID is able to raise awareness of the issues affecting this group of people. By giving them the information they need we will be able to ensure they are living as independently, and as safely, as possible. RNID is the largest charity working to change the world for the UK's nine million deaf and hard of hearing people. We do this with the help of our members by campaigning and lobbying, raising awareness of deafness and hearing loss, providing services and through social, medical and technical research. For further information about RNID or to become a member, visit www.rnid.org.uk, contact RNID's Information Line on 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone) or email informationline@rnid.org.uk.