Alerter - the firefighters blog

Pets rescued from house fire in Lowestoft

I was quite looking forward to an evening in last night. After four nights out on the trot, the thought of slobbing out in front of the box seemed most appealing.

So, having tweeted for the last time, I was about to head for my hot date with the sofa when my little friend let loose and had me heading for the door instead.

Mel was already opening up the station, doing a fine impression of a caretaker, having been literally driving past the fire station when the alerters went off.

I was driving and we were being tipped out to reports of a fire in a tumble drier at an address in Seago Street. With a crew of six and Dennis in charge I pulled out on to Normanston Drive and set course for Seago Street, barely a mile away.

As we entered from the top of the road we could see Ladder 1 from Lowestoft South approaching from the bottom end. We met in the middle outside the affected property. Initially it didn't look like much was happening, then came the shout, "It's a job!".
Red Watch had already got two of their crew starting up in BA and Mel and Cheesey from our pump got ready to follow suit.

I ran back to our pump and brought the BA Entry Control board over for Shambles who was taking on the BAECO role. Then back to the pump to move it forward a few feet and then run a length of 70 from us to Ladder 1 (LS01), ready to supply them with water if they started to eat into their 1800 litres.

By now, both BA teams had been committed into the house, each with a hosereel jet. A 45 covering jet had already been placed just outside the front gate.

And then one of the BA wearers appeared at my side holding a grubby, bedraggled cat that was fighting for breath. With the cat laid on the pavement I rushed to get the first aid kit off the pump. Now I've seen this done on TV but now was my chance to administer Oxygen therapy to an animal. I soon had the mask held over the cats face, hoping that it was now getting a good dose of Oxygen. Stroking the cat seemed to calm it down and gradually its breathing got easier and I was able to remove the mask. It opened its eyes and slowly moved its head to take in the scene around it. Then it looked me straight in the eye and let out a plaintive meow...

While this was happening outside the BA teams had extinguished the fire which had spread from the tumble drier to an adjacent TV. They were also searching for a dog and another cat. It seems the cat made a sharp exit out of a broken window while the BA team were hitting the fire. The dog was found behind the front door. He wasn't there when the BA teams entered as they'd done the customary sweep behind the door. I think he saw the door was open and made a dash for it only to be caught behind the door as the BA teams came in. Luckily he must have been getting a blast of fresh air from the outside and, bizarrely, he came out on his lead, as good as gold, with one of the BA team looking like he was off for a walk in the park!

So, my quiet evening in didn't happen. But it felt good to see that almost lifeless cat pull through and be able to return it to its owner...

I am proud to say that stroking a lifeless pussy and bringing it to life isn't a bad way to spend a Friday evening. However, I should have called it a cat before saying the above to the present Mrs C!!

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And the award goes to...

Wednesday evening saw me showered, shaved and wearing my bestest suit, all in readiness for the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service Annual Awards Ceremony.

My employer, Access Auditors Ltd., would be receiving the Retained Employer Award - Bronze. This is to recognise that they have demonstrated excellent support to the Retained Duty System for over five years. And I was going to be collecting the award as, in true Hollywood style, our directors couldn't make it to the ceremony.

But fate and the roads of Ipswich meant that me and half of Green Watch nearly didn't make it.

I knew that Green Watch would be at the ceremony to receive a trophy and so I dropped into Lowestoft South with the idea of following them down to Ipswich.

Watta a mistaka to make!

The fail-safe, dodge all the traffic shortcut across rural Suffolk saved 10 minutes but added 15 in the process. And, with the clock ticking as on Countdown, I followed my leader along some roads that were just for buses, retraced our route on a number of occasions and, with the clock striking 7 I struck out on my own. Carter's in-built homing device kicked in and I soon found myself outside Endeavour House, marvelling at the number of people that were at this shindig.

Finally re-united with Green Watch and their partners before finding our places in the Atrium ready for the ceremony to start.

And for someone who has been known to have a jaded view of things, the whole evening was well run and was a great way for members of staff, the public and employers to get a pat on the back.

A tap on the shoulder indicated that it was time for me to stand as the citation for Access Auditors was read out. Then it was a brisk walk to the dais, shake hands with the Chief, a pic for the album and then back to my seat.

Green Watch picked up the Miles Hammond Trophy, presented for demonstrating excellence by an individual team during an incident. This was in recognition of the outstanding work the guys did at an RTC in Lowestoft back in February. Well done guys - it couldn't have gone to a nicer bunch (they did pay me to say that! 50p and a Pot Noodle...).

A group photo of all the award winners was taken after the ceremony and then everyone headed over to the buffet. And that's where I left the building. Even though I was starving I needed to get back to Lowestoft as the present Mrs. C was stranded until I got back. So with the rumbling of an empty stomach I left the glitz and glamour of Endeavour House and headed for home.

Thanks SFRS, I enjoyed the evening and the company are pretty chuffed too...

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Off to Ipswich...

I'm off to Ipswich this evening to take part in an award ceremony at Endeavour House.

And no, I'm not part of the cabaret. I'm there to pick up an award!

So, watch this space, and I'll hopefully be posting about the event and there may even be a pic or two...

Lowestoft will be well represented as the reprobates of Green Watch are heading south too! Just need to make sure I get to the buffet before them!

Mini tornado wreaks havoc in Lowestoft

Talk about omens... The sky turning black, the wind howling around the bungalow, the rain lashing down, hailstones rattling on the windows, a plague of locusts, the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. It was bad but not quite up to the last two!

All of this should have made me think that my peaceful Saturday morning was about to be shattered. No sooner had the thunderous pelting of the hail stopped than my own purveyor of noise joined in the fun.

So, shoes on and a dash across to the fire station just as the rain and hail eased off.

With the builders now moved in at Normanshurst we are all having to park on the front apron or use the new drive-thru in Bays 4 and 5. So, as first in, I had to open the small door in the appliance bay doors, crack open the bay doors in front of Ladder 1, unlock the door into the kit room and finally unlock my locker to kit my fire kit out! I don't think Normanshurst has ever had so many locks on so many doors...

Anyway, tip sheet says we're off to a car that has been struck by a tree and that there are two people trapped. In the back of my mind was an incident of a few years back where two people had been killed when a tree had fallen on to their car. Hopefully the outcome of this incident wouldn't be such a tragedy.

We were off to Denmark Road, barely a mile from the fire station. As we neared the incident we could see a trail of damage stretching from the roundabout near the Lake Lothing pub all the way to where the fallen tree lay across the road. Road signs had been bent over by flying debris, fencing and advertising hoardings had been scattered across a childrens play area.

I pulled up about 50m short of the tree where the road widened, leaving space for a paramedic or ambulance to get through. From here the car was barely visible amongst the mass of branches, the tree having fallen across a cycle way, two lanes of Denmark Road and just brushed the cars parked on the far side of the road.

With Jason I set about cutting back the branches with a bow saw, clearing an area around the drivers side of the car. Meanwhile Gary and John were setting up the Powershore on the passengers side to support the weight of the tree, stopping it from further crushing the car.

White Watch were busy with casualty care (one female passenger) and starting to remove the tailgate and seats, ready for a longboard extraction.

We were joined by a paramedic who took over casualty care and, by now, the tailgate was off and the back seats had been removed. Then, carefully, the passenger was moved on to the longboard and out through the open rear of the car.

Job done...

Just tidying up to do, cutting gear and hosereel away and leave the tree removal to the experts from the council.

And an hour and a half after tipping out we were back on station, unlocking this door, opening that one, then locking another - you get the picture...

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Fury as retained crews miss out on jobs

Just thought you might like to read an article from our local newspaper. It's all about retained firefighters applying for jobs as wholetime firefighters in Suffolk.

Only 13 out of 47 retained firefighters that made an application got through the first round.

Have a read and make your own mind up. I know what I think but it would be unwise of me to vent my spleen here.

Fury as retained crews miss out on jobs - The Lowestoft Journal

One unsuccessful applicant said, “It is a bit of a blow really when you have got years of service going in at 2am and 3am and you have got commitment and loyalty and then you receive an email saying that you do not have the correct skills and attributes”.

Hmm...

 

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Fire at Birds Eye, Lowestoft

I had just managed to last the morning at work and was contemplating food and the afternoon when my plans were hurriedly altered by the strident calling of my alerter.

Traffic, for once, didn't hold me up getting to the new slim-line Normanshurst Fire Station and I was able to grab the drivers tally. The tip sheet showed we were off to a factory fire at Birds Eye in Lowestoft.

We pulled up outside Denes IV barely a minute after White Watch who had had to negotiate the lunchtime traffic in their dash from the new Lowestoft South Fire Station.

An Assistance Message had just been put in as two people were unaccounted for - so we'd now be getting a third pump crewed by the retained firefighters of Lowestoft South (the old Clifton Road crew). Thankfully the two people were found outside the building and the added urgency of searching for casualties removed.

  BA teams were being committed in to the roof space to check the ducting - looking for fire, smoke, overheating ducts. Because of the distances the BA teams were having to travel they were sent in as teams of four taking hosereels extended to 120m.

Our pump from Normanshurst and Ladder 1 from Lowestoft South were the firefighting appliances so Mel and myself stood by the pumps, like coiled springs (!?*), ready to deliver water to the BA teams.

And that's about as exciting as it got for us. We were joined by pumps from Beccles and Bungay, the Command Support Vehicle from Beccles, the Operational Support Unit from Ipswich and the Hydraulic Platfrom from Yarmouth accompanied by three Norfolk pumps.

All that kit and firefighters may seem like overkill. But if the fire had developed it would have spread quickly and its no good deciding then that you need extra resources. Get everything rolling, you can always turn it back...

And the highlight of the whole job...

Being well fed and watered by the catering staff at Birds Eye. Thanks guys - firefighters are a happy bunch when they've had food and drink and your hospitality really hit the spot!

End of an era...

At 10am this morning Lowestoft South Fire Station became operational.

It will seem strange for me not to see all the pumps and specials waiting behind the closed appliance bay doors as I pass the fire station.

The existing Normanshurst Fire Station had been serving Lowestoft for 37 years and before that the station was based at the old house that stood just behind the mess room. I can remember visiting the station on what was probably its very first open day and sitting in the drivers seat of a fire engine. Never did I imagine that some 30 years later I would be driving one of those things for real!

And soon the builders will be moving to this side of the river to start on building the new Normanshurst. Except it won't be Normanshurst, more likely we'll be known as North Lowestoft.

It will be a single bay fire station and is designed to serve North Lowestoft for the next 30 odd years. I'll not get into arguments now as to whether it should have been designed with two bays or any of the other things that will get me into trouble.

I'm just looking forward to seeing the new station being built and moving in sometime in the Summer of 2010.

And for now Normanshurst must be the largest single pump fire station in the UK!

 

UK Fire and Rescue Services use new driver training technique...

Rumour has it that, in an effort to cut costs, greenhouse gases and appeal to the younger computer-literate generation, UK Fire Services are to trial a new technique in driver training.

No longer will drivers need to pass an EFAD (Emergency Fire Appliance Driver) course. Instead they will be required to take a computer-based test.

If you think you've got what it takes to drive a fire engine on blue lights through heavy traffic, why not take the test now...

Just follow this link...

New EFAD course

Note: For the gullible please note that this is a wind-up and that UK Fire and Rescue Services are not, repeat not, using this to teach their turnout drivers. Or are they?

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Emergency, which service?

Well, that's a first...

There I was, wandering through Lowestoft town centre, heading in the general direction of the bank when a familiar smell assailed my nostrils. No, it wasn't the smell of alcohol on someones breath or the tang of an unwashed body but something that I felt I should instantly recognise. Bugger, what is it?

Smoke, that's it!

Right in front of me were wisps of smoke wafting up from a bin. A man was slowly circling the bin with his mobile pressed to his ear. He then stood in the doorway to Clinton Cards looking at the bin.

"Have you called the Fire Brigade?", I asked the man.

"Don't know if it's worth it", he replied.

"Well I think I'd better call them", I mumbled as I tried to remember the number to call (only joking!).

9-9-9

"Emergency, which service?"

"Fire, please."

"Fire Service"

"Er, hello, it's Firefighter Carter from Normanshurst. There's a fire in a bin outside Clinton Cards in Lowestoft", I stumbled through, feeling slightly odd being on this end of events.

"Rubbish fire outside Clinton Cards in Lowestoft... What road is that on?", queried Fire Control.

Bloody hell! That was like the £1m question on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire... What road is that? It's not even a road, it's a pedestrianised area... Is this a trick question?

"Er, erm... London Road North", I blurted with complete conviction (!?*)

"And who did you say you were?"

How many more questions can there be?

"It's Firefighter Carter from Normanshurst".

"Thank you..."

Phew, glad that's over. And by now flames are licking out of the bin...

I then rang Ladder 1 and told them the best way to come into the traffic free area before ambling over to where they would appear.

"Bloody typical, just having me dinner", was the only welcome I received...

Could you be a Retained Firefighter?

It can be a big commitment but it's the sort of job that just gets under your skin - it becomes a part of you, a way of life.

Generally there are two types of cover that you can offer your local Fire and Rescue Service - full cover or three quarter cover. Full cover, as its name suggests is pretty much 24/7 but in reality you have to offer cover of a minimum of 120 hours per week. Three quarter cover is usually 80 hours to 120 hours and can be suited to those working shift patterns or with family commitments.

Early on in your career as a retained firefighter there will be a number of training courses to attend - basic training (5 - 10 days), two Breathing Apparatus courses (5 days each) plus others like First Aid, Road Traffic Collision and Marine Firefighting - much dependent on your location and the Fire and Rescue Service that you are working for.

To find out if your local fire station is recruiting just turn up on their drill night (there's usually a sign outside the fire station that will tell you when this is) or contact your Fire and Rescue Service.

How do Retained Firefighters get called out?

Every retained firefighter carries an alerter (a pager or bleeper) that is activated by Fire Control when their station is required to respond to an incident. They then have around five minutes in which to make their way to the fire station and mobilise whatever fire appliance(s) are needed for this incident. And don't forget, the alerter can go off anytime, day or night. You may be at work, at home watching the telly, in bed (sleeping), out with your mates or any one of many situations when you wish that thing just hadn't gone off!

The retained firefighters then turn out, ready to use the same equipment, procedures and techniques used by their wholetime colleagues.

And when the incident has been dealt with the retained firefighters can go back to work, swear about missing the footie on the TV or try to get back to sleep, ready for their day job in just a few short hours.

What type of incidents do Retained Firefighters have to deal with?

You name it and retained firefighters have to deal with it! We are expected to deal with the same types of incidents as wholetime firefighters. In the eyes of an Incident Commander we are all firefighters and must be able to deal with whatever emergency we are faced with.

Incidents attended by retained firefighters include:

• Fires - house, car, ship, aeroplanes
• Road Traffic Collisions
• Train crashes, air accidents, industrial accidents
• Chemical incidents
• Terrorist incidents - including CBRN capabilities, mass decontamination
• Water rescue
• Animal rescues
• Flooding
• Major incidents - Buncefield Oil Depot, Lockerbie, Selby train crash, national flood rescues, etc.
• Urban Search and Rescue
• Lift rescues
• Co-responding - providing support to the Ambulance Service. A fire appliance may be nearer to a person requiring attention due a heart attack than the nearest ambulance. Defibrilation and basic life support can be provided until paramedics arrive.
• and sometimes, just sometimes, a cat stuck in a tree!

What training do Retained Firefighters receive?

Surprisingly this varies enormously depending on which Fire and Rescue Service you serve with. In Suffolk new recruits undergo a seven day 'Approved to Ride' course which takes in basics such as running out hose, hydrants, ladders, knots and lines, pumping. And tagged on the end of the seven day course is a three day basic RTC course. Having successfully passed this course the new recruit is issued with their alerter (pager) and can respond to calls.

There are then two Breathing Apparatus (BA) courses, each of five days duration, normally a few months apart. The first course is all the BA basics - donning and starting up procedures, set cleaning and cylinder charging, moving in smoke and darkness, search and rescue, hose and hosereel management, etc. The second course moves on with more advanced search and rescue drills, using guidelines, confined space drills and working in nil visibility (hi-ex foam).

Add to this RTC course, first aid, LGV driving, EFAD (Emergency Fire Appliance Driving), Marine Firefighting and many others and you can see that there's quite a bit of training required.

Retained firefighters need to achieve the same level of training as their wholetime colleagues. When we turn up at an incident the public won't be too chuffed if we stand back and wait till a wholetime crew arrive because we haven't had the relevant training. A fire engine turns up and the public expect results…

However, all of this has to be achieved in just 2 or 3 hours training per week. And when you consider that you also need to attend lectures, do routine checks and carry out Community Fire Safety commitments, it is something of a tall order!

Retained Firefighters and the local community

Community Fire Safety

Retained firefighters take an active part in Community Fire Safety initiatives from Home Fire Safety Checks to educational visits to local schools.

This is part of a concerted and sustained programme to drive down the numbers of fires that need to be dealt with.

Because retained firefighters live within the community they serve, they are well placed to know and understand local risks and are known and trusted by the local community.

Road Safety

All Fire and Rescue Services run their own initiatives aimed at reducing the number of deaths on our roads.

In Suffolk we have Learn & Live and Too Young To Die. In the Waveney district of Suffolk we have now delivered Learn & Live to over 4000 students and young adults in the most at risk age group - 17 to 24 year olds.

Fetes and Open Days

In villages and town across the UK you will often see the local retained firefighters attending fetes, galas and carnivals. It's a great way to meet the public and, let's face it, a fire engine always attracts a crowd of small boys, Dads and a fair few ladies too!

Many fire stations also hold their own open days, often teaming up with the police and ambulance service to make it an alround Emergency Services open day.

How to become a retained firefighter

Most Fire and Rescue Services around the UK have retained firefighters and there always tends to be vacancies needing to be filled.

You need to contact your local Fire and Rescue Service and find out about the vacancies they have. All the contact details you will need can be found on the main Alerter website.