Alerter

The overweight fire engine...

It was brought to my attention by an informant that there was a blog post just waiting to be typed. All I had to do was search for the story on a certain newspaper's website and all would be revealed.

I duly headed off to the Evening Star website, searched for "fire engine bury" and the full, unbelievable story was there in front of me.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue have recently taken delivery of a new fire engine. It's a fire engine with a difference. It's called a CARP - Combined Aerial Rescue Pump and is to be stationed at Bury St.Edmunds to replace it's ageing Turntable Ladder (TL).

As the name suggests, this is a fire engine but with aerial rescue capabilities, albeit not as great as that of the TL.

But what do we find once the thing has been delivered. It's too heavy! And why? Well, when all the specs were being drawn up someone forgot to add in an allowance for the weight of water and the crew. Unbelievable but true.

I feel this quote from the Evening Star report says it all:
"A Suffolk County Council spokeswoman said the vehicle's weight issues had been discovered during “acceptance testing”.

She said the addition of water, firefighters and extra equipment had not been considered when the weight of the bespoke vehicle had been calculated.

Joanna Spicer, Suffolk County Council portfolio holder for public protection, added: “There have been design issues but we expected glitches.

“It is just heavier than we ordered. It is possible to reduce the amount it carries - even if it is potentially dangerous it can be corrected and we are seeking expert advice."

I like the phrase "we expected glitches". That has to the understatement of the year!

All this aside, it seems that CARP's haven't had too favourable a reception in other brigades.

Here's a quote I found on another website:
"Carps just keep falling over, breaking down or off the run."
[http://www.fire-engine-photos.com/picture/number3936.asp]

What will become of our CARP - the jack of all trades but master of none?

I expect right now, in the corridors of power, there's plenty of people fishing for an answer!

Suffolk Fire and Rescue at the cutting edge - me thinks not!

Last week rumours were rife. The story had got round the station like wildfire.

We were soon to be given training on stab vests! Stab vests - f**k me! Things must be getting rough in Lowestoft if we're being given stab vests. If I'd wanted one of them I'd have joined the boys in blue!

No, you dosey pillock. It's Stab-Fast.

That doesn't sound much better to me. Stab-Fast, Stab-Slow - whichever it is it's going to sting!

And then the penny drops a very long way indeed.

Stab-Fast is a new piece of kit being rolled out across Suffolk for use at RTC's (Road Traffic Collisions). In a matter of seconds these adjustable supports can be attached to a vehicle, giving excellent stabilisation. The kit is simple and virtually firefighter proof - although Al and Shambles haven't been let loose together with one of these.

I did say that this is being rolled out across Suffolk. And it is. Every fire engine in the brigade will have a Stab-Fast. All except dear old Ladder 2 at Normanshurst. Ladder 2 at Bury will have it. All the pumps at Headquarters will have it. But not us.

Is it because Lowestoft is a safer place than the rest of Suffolk (unlikely), is it because in the very near future we may be shuffling off to Norfolk (possible) or is it... Suffolk are just too tight to buy that one extra set?

I think I'm on the right track when we're told that Suffolk decided not to purchase a simple wedge that can be incorporated in the kit, adding to the stabilising effect. How much money did they save by not buying that? Obviously not enough to buy the kit for Ladder 2 at Normanshurst!

And are Suffolk at the cutting edge by introducing this kit? Not likely. Just a quick trawl of the Internet shows me that in Ireland, New Zealand and Australia it's been in use for over two years. And that's without the Germans, the Dutch and everybody else...

Better late than never I suppose.

Buses come in three's, what about fire engines?

No, that's not the start of some corney joke... The answer is four. For what seemed the first time in absolutely ages, my alerter went off while I was at home, not in the middle of the night and not when I'm on leave!

Jogging towards the station I could see the PRT was tipping out and when I saw all three turnout lights I up, I assumed we were all going to an RTC in this neck of the woods. As I was first in I took a look at the printer to see where all the action was. The tip sheet didn't show NT05 (the PRT), just NT01 and NT02 to smoke issuing from a flat on Kirkley Cliff in the south of Lowestoft. This meant that Clifton must be out with the PRT otherwise they would have been the other pump at our shout.

So, now I was driving Ladder 1 as first pump in to a fire in a four storey building. And with it not being our normal pump (we usually take Ladder 2), my brain is racing to make sure I know where everything is and the idiosyncracies (what?) of Ladder 1. If anyone wants a definition of that long word just drop me an e-mail!

Now the drive through the early evening rush hour. Denmark Road towards the railway station is always good. Outside of the queueing traffic, wrong side of all the islands, a quick shimmy through the traffic lights, a few choice words at a motorist who is more concerned with his phone call than moving out of our way and over the bascule bridge.

We pull up outside the property number we've been given but there's no sigh of fire or anybody waiting for us. Then, up ahead, I spot a man standing in the middle of the road waving frantically. When we pull up there's a male casualty, face blackened feeling slightly worse for taking a few lungfuls of smoke.

Two BA off, pump engaged, hosereel coming off, the BA team go under air and make their way up to the third floor. Luckily the chip pan is out and the level of activity suddenly drops dramatically.

I think the guy that had waved at us had probaly narrowly missed being run down by the PRT and Clifton as they responded just prior to us to an incident up at Pakefield Cliffs. All, I can assume is that this guy is fast on his feet and was able to jump out of the way pretty sharpish! 

Now, if the technology works, this post should appear on my Facebook profile... Here goes...

One Suffolk... but minus Lowestoft

Ever felt that nobody loves you? Ever felt like the black sheep (or is it sheep of multi-ethnic origin - just trying to be PC) of the family? Ever been sent to Coventry? Or to Norfolk?

Well, we all know that dear old Lowestoft has its problems. Being a deprived area and being a little too far from Ipswich has got the Boundary Committee for England thinking that we'd be better off as part of Norfolk.

I've read the report from the Boundary Committee and, admittedly, some of it makes sense. The reason they are thinking about moving the border is down, basically, to failed attempts by Norwich and then Ipswich to become unitary authorities. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has asked the Boundary Committee to look at alternatives. The sad thing is that the favoured option for Suffolk is 'an Ipswich & Felixstowe unitary authority and a Suffolk unitary authority comprising the rest of the county apart from the Lowestoft area.'

Is it me or am I developing an inferiority complex?

But looking on the main Suffolk County Council website we see that our paymasters have actually been thinking about two ways forward to achieve their utopian dream of 'One Suffolk'. Here's what it says:

The Boundary Committee for England has today announced it sees merit in the 'One Suffolk' proposal. The Committee has backed the joint proposal from Suffolk County Council and Mid Suffolk District Council – ‘One Suffolk’ - as one of the proposals upon which it is consulting.

It will consult on two proposals for Suffolk:

The first is for two unitary councils: a North Haven unitary council, including Ipswich, Felixstowe and many rural areas; and a Suffolk unitary council covering the remainder of the county, excluding Lowestoft. Lowestoft is proposed to move into Norfolk.
The second proposal is for a single unitary Suffolk council excluding Lowestoft. Lowestoft is proposed to move into Norfolk.

Councillor Jeremy Pembroke, Leader of Suffolk County Council, said, “If people and local organisations support the ‘One Suffolk’ proposal, then the Boundary Committee will put that to the Secretary of State. Our 'One Suffolk' is the cheapest solution - it would save the equivalent of £100 for every household in Suffolk. It would make all services easier to use and give local people in each area a bigger say. Our task is to ensure that our residents don’t lose out through any changes. I remain convinced that a unitary Suffolk – one council for the county – would benefit the people of Suffolk.”

Well thanks a bunch mate! I'm alright Jack because we're getting rid of Lowestoft and that'll save £100 for every household in Suffolk. So it's not about whether it's the right option and the benefits it'll deliver, it's down to the old pounds, shillings and pence - yet again!

Mr. Pembroke may come to regret his boyish enthusiasm as the groundswell of public opinion looks set to go in the opposite direction. Time will tell.

Moving Lowestoft into Norfolk depends on five criteria laid down by the Secretary of State. These are (now stay with this. I read the whole bloody document so I'm sure you can manage a bit more...):

• attract a broad cross-section of support - LOOKS UNLIKELY
• provide for strong, effective and accountable strategic leadership - DOUBTFUL
• deliver the empowerment of citizens and communities, so that all communities have power and resources to influence the decisions that affect them in their localities - POSSIBLE
• provide value-for-money services – services should be provided effectively, efficiently and in an integrated and coherent way, ultimately driving up customer satisfaction - NOT SURE IF SUFFOLK HAVE ACHIEVED THIS YET, SO UNLIKELY
• be affordable – the change to a unitary structure should deliver value-for money and be self-financing, with transitional costs being capable of being paid back within a five-year period - EXTREMELY UNLIKELY

I'd say it will fall down on four out of the five criteria, meaning that on aggregate the idea gets binned.

Where does this leave Lowestoft with its new fire station about to be built, literally under two miles inside the new Norfolk border - Norfolk will extend down the A12 to just before the north end of the Kessingland bypass and cut back across the A146 at the westerly end of Rookery Park Golf Club?

Would Norfolk want a brand new fire station and the annual repayments on the PFI? Would they prefer to keep more pumps on 'the island' and therefore be happier to do a refurb on Normanshurst? That's just the tip of the iceberg on the fire service side of things... These changes extend into other services to - Police, highways, refuse, housing and so many more.

There are some merits about shifting the border but it does feel awfully like being sent to Coventry...

I'll stop now because you've read far too much in one go and probably need to have a lie down.

Feel free to post your comments. You may think this is a fantastic idea or you may think it's Norfolk and Good!

Here's how the local media are covering the story:

Suffolk Free Press - New look for Suffolk gets cool response

Bury Free Press - Councils unite against Suffolk proposals

EADT - MPs' anger over unitary proposals

Me in charge? You're having a laugh!

This has to be a record in recent times - two weeks on the trot and we weren't subject to a lecture!

Mel had devised a drill for two crews and whisked away his helpers for their briefing. Prior to this Mel casually informed me that I would be in charge of the 'incident', being Officer in Charge of the first pump.

No pressure then! I've never done this before and perhaps being given just a few minutes notice was a good idea, any longer and I'd have stayed at home to wash my hair or something lame like that.

It wasn't just me that would be working outside their 'comfort zone'. Pump operators were chosen from the non-appliance drivers - in other words using the main pump is not what they would normally do at a job, they'd be in BA, running hose or one of the hundred other jobs.
My pump operator was Howard Clarke with Paul 'Nubbs' Newberry acting as pump operator on the PRT.

The only information I was given was that we were attending a flat fire, which is all you'll ever get on a tip sheet, and that two pumps were attending.

We pulled up at the 'job' and I could see a women (ably acted by Rachael 'Princess' O'Connell) at the open first floor window. She had a baby in her arms and smoke was issuing from the window. Before we came to a halt I requested that the 9m ladder be placed to effect a rescue here and that a hosereel, a covering jet, and two BA be readied.

I then proceeded to do a 360 of the building, informing Mel that I would put back an assistance message, persons reported. When I got to the rear of the building I could see another casualty hanging out of the first floor window.

When the PRT arrived I instructed Richard Belsey to get a 9m ladder round to the rear to rescue the casualty seen hanging out of the window.

And it's about now that things started to turn to rat shit. Mel applied the pressure by constantly asking when the next BA team was going to be committed, that we needed a covering jet to protect the adjoining building and where was the water??

To compound the lack of experience on my part and that of the pump operators we had some 'problems' dealt to us. Firstly, the hydrant we had set into was 'hit' by a vehicle and put out of action. So, the next hydrant had to be set into. Then Ladder 2 overran its supply and was deemed to be out of action. This meant disconnecting most of the hose from Ladder 2 and reconnecting this to the PRT (including the feed from the hydrant).

At this point we had lost water and had two BA teams in the building. There was nothing we could do but to sound the evacuation signal (short blasts on the Acme Thunderer whistle). Within a minute the two BA teams appeared and made their way to BAECO (Ben 'Horney' Horne). One team didn't have enough air to be recommited so they were told to dump their sets. The second BA team were kept on air to be recommited once we had a good supply of water again.

Getting an adequate supply of water was going to be problematic as the PRT was virtually empty.

For the purpose of the drill I was informed that all casualties were accounted for but we needed to get main jets to work on the building - 3 at the front and 2 to the rear.

Unfortunately, I instructed the crews to make the three deliveries on the PRT into five by using two dividing breeches. With all the hose we had run out already this meant unravelling the spaghetti-like mess. I'd totally forgotten the Lightweight Portable Pump (LPP) on Ladder 2 and was instructed to get this working. So, the now sweating and ever-so slightly knackered crews carried the LPP to the one remaining hydrant and proceeded to get two deliveries to work.

And it was about now that we were given the 'knock off and makeup' instruction.

Considering there were a number of people doing jobs they'd never done before, the whole thing could have been worse. I took a lot away from the drill - there's plenty to think about as OIC, you don't always get the fire engines that would normally attend, the situation is always fluid and if it can go wrong, it will!

The two hour drill session certainly went much quicker than if we were sitting in a lecture fighting off the onset of sleep!

The Last Open Day at Normanshurst - or is it?

I don't know where to start...

What an absolutely brilliant day was had by all - our visitors (in their hundreds), our guests from the other emergency services and for all of us at Normanshurst who worked their magic on the crowds.

The Open Day has been in the planning for months, gradually coming together and involving more and more people, most of them willingly. These last few weeks had seen the pace quicken as raffle prizes were sought, posters were printed and circulated, stalls were organised, the catering was planned and a thousand other things - all so important to guarantee a great day. The only thing that had to be left to chance was the weather, but thankfully Neil Henderson is on good terms with the Big Boss and he didn't disappoint!

The day started early for some with Green Watch finishing their final night with preparations for the day. Gradually more and more of the firefighters from Normanshurst arrived, many with their wives and children, all eager to lend a hand.

Time just flew by as everyone pitched in with the myriad of tasks still to complete. We were all set for our 1100 briefing which slipped to 1115 and finally got going at 1130, with everyone crowded into the mess room. The Police, Ambulance Service and Casualty Union were briefed on their part in the RTC drill, Norfolk's USAR team were given their slot in the proceedings and then it was time to ask for volunteers.

Now, anyone with a military background will say that you should never volunteer for anything and the same goes for the Fire Service. But there is one occasion when the urge to volunteer gets the better of all of us. Neil was describing the final drill - a fire in the drill tower with casualties to be rescued from all floors. He needed volunteers to be casualties and the casualties were to be women. Like a shot, a sea of hands went up for the honour of being rescued by Suffolk's finest, by a bunch of male firefighters, all wanting the chance to dress in drag! I'll come back to this later...

Bang on cue Woody Bear arrived to officially open the event by cutting a piece of Fire Service red and white traffic tape. There was already a small crowd in place to welcome Woody and then make their way through the front of the appliance bays and into the drill yard.

The next four hours was just a whirl of activities. My first drill was for a simulated car fire with me driving the PRT, Mel Buck in charge, Al and Greg in BA and Horney Ben as BAECO. With about ten minutes to go before our allotted time we pulled slowly out of the appliance bay, not wanting to have a close encounter with any of the visitors, and drove round to the rear entrance of the station. On cue, we pulled away with blues and two's for a quick sweep into the drill yard to be confronted not by a raging inferno but a knackered Fiesta with a few wisps of smoke coming out of its windows. Anyway, the drill was over in a matter of minutes, we made all the gear up and made a swift exit.

Before the next drill I took the opportunity to have a wander. There really was plenty for everyone to see and do. In addition to Fire, Police and Ambulance we also had the inshore lifeboat, Coastguard, vintage fire engine from Seething Airfield and stalls by the bucket full - all designed to part our visitors from their money.

Next up for me was an RTC drill involving two vehicles, one of which had two trapped casualties. We kept the same crew on the PRT and Ladder 2 was in line astern of us waiting to enter the arena. The drill seemed to go very well and quite quickly too. We even had the Ambulance crew there and the Police were landing a hand too. I think it's safe to say that the WPC's provided excellent casualty care and I would expect that their bedside manner would be second to none.
The front seat passenger was the first out on the longboard followed a tad more slowly by the driver. I'm convinced she had her feet wrapped around the steering column just to make the extrication more difficult!
And as quickly as the drill had started, it was all over. Time for a change of clothes as I was soaked - station wear, full fire kit and then the nice plastic hi-viz jacket just to keep all the heat in.

With time advancing it was the cue for the five damsels in distress to get dressed. And what a sight we were! It was a cross between a bunch of Pantomime dames and Emily 'I'm a Lady' from Little Britain.

With plenty of noise and not too much campness we climbed the drill tower. I was on the first floor and due to be rescued first via the short extension ladder at the hands of the Clifton Road crew. With my best impression of a Panto dame I hammed up the rescue until finally brought safely to the ground. Then, still in my party frock, I ran out a few lengths of 45 and connected to the hydrant. As each 'lady' was rescued they too joined in until Neil and Andy 'Begz' Jackson were plucked from the drill tower roof by the Turntable Ladder. Then it was 'water on' as five 45's soaked the drill tower and everyone taking part in the drill.

And that was it, the day was nearly over. The crowd started to disperse, all the kit was made up and in no time you'd never have known anything out of the ordinary had happened. Bu, actually, something extraordinary had happened. Firefighters and many others had given up their spare time to run a fantastic event. Just to see the look on faces, young and old, was enough to tell you the day had been a success.

I nipped home to pick up Karen (my wife) for the shindig organised for all the helpers and their families. It was a chance to unwind with a burger and a beer and chat about the day. It's been easy to forget that in the six years since joining as a retained firefighter, Karen has never seen inside the station and has only imagined the things we see and do. So here was my chance to show her around and, earlier in the day, to see what her old man gets up to when his alerter shatters the peace. I don't think we, as firefighters, always appreciate the sacrifices that our wives and partners make for us to do this job. We know and hopefully understand the dangers we face but they can only imagine them - that's got to be far worse.

I'm not sure how much money was raised but, judging by the queues for food and drink, it should be a tidy sum.

And just when we thought that was the final curtain for Open Days at Normanshurst it was realised that we may be able to sneak another one in next year, before the new station opens its doors. After this years success I hope we get the opportunity to repeat it all next year...

As and when I get any pics, I'll add them as a gallery. If anyone has got any pics I can use, pleas e-mail them to ian.carter@fire.suffolkcc.gov.uk. Thank you.

Camp Fire...

Date: 24th June 2008
Time: 2338
Type: Fire
Address: Camp Road, Lowestoft
Initial Attendance: Normanshurst 01
Final Attendance: Normanshurst 02

These night time shouts are getting to be a habit now. I, along with all the others, need my beauty sleep. And judging by what I saw staring back at me from the mirror the other morning, I need it more than most!

My finely tuned hearing picked up the reserve Ladder 1 going out on a shout. As the alerter hadn't gone off I felt rather smug as I rolled over and promptly fell asleep. It could only have been a matter of minutes before my alerter was jumping around out in the hall.

Usual routine but not first across to the station. Denis was still there, with writers cramp, after filling in a raft of forms in relation to the little mishap earlier in the evening with Ladder 1.

When we arrived at Camp Road you could see that the fire was in the centre of the complex of buildings that occupy this corner site. Danny O'Neill and Rudi Mann had entered the building wearing BA and extinguished the fire. The fire had taken hold on a stairway and had advanced up to the first floor of what is an empty warehouse.

I went into the building with Dennis, Al and Shambles to hit hot spots and monitor the situation with the Thermal Image Camera. We had to ne careful as we moved about on the first floor as the floor was very unsafe - we had already had the odd foot and even leg disappear through the flooring!

And that was about it... Another disturbed night. Dozing off on the settee is a distint possibly this evening.

BA Exercise at Bernard Matthews, Holton

There was a somewhat delayed start to this exercise due to a little mishap on our way here.

Anyway, we got our BA sets sorted and were divided into pairs - I was paired up with Gary Smart.

Our task was to enter the disused canteen and kitchen area and count how many fire extinguishers were in there and remember their positions. We would then have to mark on plan where they were sited after we had completed the drill.
Obviously we couldn't fill the place with smoke so we all fitted the faithful 'knickers' to our masks to totally obscure our vision. Just to dispel any myths, we don't use actual knickers, clean or otherwise. Our 'knickers' are just an opaque, elasticated cover that keeps you from seeing anything useful and interesting. Thinking about it, that's exactly what real knickers do. At last, I've worked out where they get their name from!

Back to the drill...

I volunteered to go as No.1 and lead the way round the rooms. In all we found 5 extinguishers amongst the tables, ovens, serving counters, sinks, taps, mixers and all the other catering paraphernalia. Ian 'Billy' McMillan accompanied us as BAI (BA Instructor) and gave us good feedback generally but most notably for our communication between team members.

Once we had marked the floorplan with our 'X's' we changed cylinders and prepared for the second exercise.

This time I was teamed up with John Hubbard, with me as No.2. We entered the building on the ground floor, following the left-hand wall and carrying out search and rescue.
A few relatively minor learning points to take away from this one but overall it's good to get a couple of BA wears in.

And that was it. Just the drive back to Lowestoft, service our sets and away just after 2200hrs.

Trees a Crowd...

I can feel a career change afoot! This headline writing malarkey could be the next big thing for me... Anyway, to the plot...

Being a Tuesday, it's drill night and with an early start too. The early start was so that we could take two pumps down to Holton, just outside Halesworth, for a BA exercise at the disused Bernard Mathews plant there.

It was a lovely Summer evening (we do have them now and again) for the drive to Holton and I was able to relax in the back of the pump and take part in the normal banter and the far from intelligent conversation that is normal on any fire engine.

We were following Ladder 1 and turned right down a country lane as opposed to the normal route round to Holton (apparently this road was closed). The lane was quite narrow and I remember saying it would be fun if we met something coming the other way.

Well that's what did happen and Les, driving Ladder 1, pulled over into a small passing place as the car made to pass by both pumps. We seemed to have stopped longer than was necessary when Ladder 1 started to reverse. Mark, driving Ladder 2, duly reversed too. If was only then, with room to see down the nearside of Ladder 1, could we understand the reason for the delay.
The cab door was peeled back from the hinge side and the mirrors had smashed both windows in the door. The glass had showered Dennis, who was in the OIC seat and had even flown right across and hit Les!

It seems that when Les pulled over, a tree branch, that was facing straight towards us, had gone between the door and the mirror arm, with the result as described above.

While First Aid was given to Les for cuts to his arm and Dennis had his eyes checked, Shambles stepped up to the mark for a spot of panel beating. He climbed up into the cab and simply bent the door back into shape. If it wasn't for the missing glass and the odd crease in the metal, you'd never have been the wiser as to what had happened...

We tidied the area of glass, calls were made to Brigade Workshops and we carried on to the BA exercise, by now running a tad late.

I'll describe the exercise in the next post...

When we got back to Normanshurst at around 2200hrs, a reserve pump had been delivered and the Workshops guys were ready for a drafty ride back to Ipswich.

I always knew that Tuesday drill nights could be more exciting than sitting in the classroom and listening to endless lectures!

Three Rounds of Mighty White

Having now been awake since midnight (it's now nearly seven in the evening), I'm more than impressed with my headline writing. To the uninitiated it really isn't that clever but when explained it becomes crystal clear. You see, last night we had three shouts and the wholetime watch on duty was White Watch - known to themselves and anyone else that'll listen as Mighty White.

And there you have, what I think is, a brilliant piece of headline writing. So good that it is on a par with The Sun newspaper. And if I was a headline writer for The Sun I think I may have penned the following for a story that's close to our hearts - "Out of the Frying Pan and into the Fire!". If you've read the article then you know what I'm talking about. Perhaps If I'd sent this in I would have received a cheque in the post...
I wonder if, like Basil Fawlty, I can mention the war once and get away with it... Time will tell. Depends where the funny bone is located at present.

Anyway back to the story...

It didn't seem long after turning the lights out that my little black number started to wake the dead. By the time I'd trotted over to the station, having made it past the nighttime traffic, my eyes were just open enough to register the time - just after midnight. So I'd managed an hours sleep then.

We were off to XXX Road to a fire that the tip sheet announced was 'all out'. The stop message came in as we were approaching the St.Peter's Street roundabout. So double back and on station again just a couple of minutes after booking mobile. I didn't hear from any of White Watch what they'd encountered before I headed back to my bed.

As always, it took me over an hour to nod off, just in time for the alerter to go off again.

The tip sheet said we were heading back to XXX Road. This time it had 'abandoned call' on the message. There were collective groans as we climbed wearily on to the pump - it seemed someone was taking the Mickey well and good. I was driving and as we got down to the roundabout an informative message came in from Ladder 1. I knew they'd got a job as you could hear the pump in the background with its distinctive high pitch. The message was 'front room well alight, two BA, 1 hosereel, Oscar mode. Request attendance of Police, suspected arson'.
My immediate thought was the occupants had been targetted by someone with a grudge. As legal proceedings may be underway I'll not go into any further details at present.

Pictures were taken of the seat of the fire and the Police gathered what evidence they could.

And that was that...

Home at just after 0230 and the need for a cup of hot, sweet tea. Bugger me, two slurps of the sweet nectar and the f**king this was rattling itself silly again. You can probably tell from my turn of phrase that any degree of good humour at being dragged out of bed twice had well and truly worn very thin!

It couldn't possibly be the same address for a third time (stranger things have happened!). No, this time it was the other direction to the now empty George Borrow pub near to Oulton Broad North railway station.
A brick built shed adjacent to the pub was on fire - pots of paint, old tables and other junk plus a burst water pipe.

By the time this incident was winding up, the sky to the East was lightening considerably as Monday dawned. The time was now 0330, just two hours before needing to be up and getting ready for the day job. Such are the joys of being a retained firefighter - up all night and then having to face a full day at work. 'If you can't take a joke you should never have joined', I can hear some wag saying. But that's all part and parcel of being a retained firefighter. And, thankfully, it doesn't happen that often.

So that was 'Three Rounds of Mighty White'. They're on again tonight. Let's hope we don't get another slice of the action again...