Alerter - the firefighters blog

Flat fire, Bramble Green, Lowestoft

The peace and quiet of a Sunday morning was shattered on the dot of 7 as my alerter threw a wobbly and I threw myself out of the front door.

The speed I left meant I hadn't really assessed the weather and as soon as my feet hit the path I did a very credible impression of Torvill & Dean doing the Bolero! Boy, was it icy!

My first thought was that we must be off to an RTC but the tip sheet showed we were off to a flat fire barely half a mile from the station.

As we turned into Northgate we could see a plume of smoke rising in the distance even though it was only just starting to get light. As we pulled up in Bramble Green there were flames already issuing from the bedroom of the first floor flat.

A BA team from Ladder 1 of Lowestoft South entered via the front door and made their way up to the flat. Prior to them making an entry into the bedroom the 45mm covering jet was used to knock the flames back.

Having run out a 70mm length from our pump to Ladder 1 so they had plenty of water I then moved on to run the BA board. Our BA team (John Hubbard and Jason Balls) were committed to the flat, continuing to search the property and also to ventilate.

And, as usual, the hive of activity comes to an abrupt halt and it was a case of making up all the gear ready for the off.

A quick trip up to Lowestoft South to recharge our cylinders before a Fire Priority to a single vehicle RTC out near ParK hill, Oulton. All this before 9:30!

Fire in Lound, near The Village Maid, Lowestoft

I really have an exciting social life you know! Friday night, it's just gone half eight and all I can manage is a fitful doze on my bed. It doesn't get any more 'on the edge' than that.

And after 10 days without a shout it certainly didn't seem that the Fire Service were going to 'treat' me to a night out either.

How wrong you can be...

Bang on 20:40 and my little black number (that's my alerter not some a party frock!) goes into overdrive and sends me from prone to front door in seconds.

By the time I've jogged across to the fire station the cold night air has just about woken me up. Tally up in the drivers position and then off to get the tip sheet and see where we're off to.
All I could glean from the tip sheet was that we were being sent to a house in Lound, opposite The Village Maid pub. Well I wouldn't be needing directions for that then, having enjoyed countless meals in the pub I knew exactly where to go...

So, with a crew of six, we headed towards the A12 and Jay Lane, by far the quickest route to Lound when you're trying to get 14 tonnes of fire engine there in a hurry. As we turned into Jay Lane and started to accelerate down the long straight, the ominous glow of a well developed fire could be seen in the distance.

Dennis confirmed out loud what we already knew - "She's a goer!"

We had by now heard radio traffic that this was a Make Pumps 4 job and we were being assisted by pumps from Norfolk - the incident was just a couple of hundred metres from the border.

And as we turned into Lound an Assistance Message went in for Make Pumps 6 and aerial appliance required,

I pulled up right outside The Village Maid, behind Ladder 1 from Lowestoft South and with two Norfolk pumps ahead of them. It was quickly decided that we should act as base pump and take water directly from the pond, pumping it to the Yarmouth pump for them to deliver through three lines of hose.

The hard suction was off, connected, submerged in the pond and into the eye of the pump and we were ready to go.

I couldn't actually see the house from where I was but would, every so often, see the fire break out again before a main jet hit it back again.

The Turntable Ladder (TL) and its support pump were en route from Ipswich but height was needed prior to their arrival to effectively tackle the flames. So two 135 ladders were deployed and firefighters using Working at Height equipment got to work to subdue the fire.

In due course the TL arrived and we supplied it via the Yarmouth pump as it made light work of attacking the remaining areas that were still on fire.

And me... Well as driver and pump operator you sometimes have a lonely existence, standing at the back of the pump keeping water flowing and no one to talk too. But when you're right outside the pub and it's heaving as festivities get underway you tend to have a few people want to chat with you!

A tray of coffees appeared from the pub and were set down on the base of the village sign. Close to me but not close enough. When word spread that hot drinks were available they soon disappeared and I didn't get a sniff. Irritable - you bet!

Now would be a good time to say a big, big thank you to The Village Maid for feeding us and providing copious amounts of hot drinks. Sandwiches, baguettes and chips - a veritable feast - and thankfully received by the firefighters who had, by now, been tackling the blaze and salvaging contents of the house for the best part of four hours...

One relief crew was left at the incident throughout the night, checking for hotspots.

Time to head home and back to bed...

Women rescued from flat fire in Lowestoft

These things always bite you on the backside when you're least expecting it.

Work has been really busy lately and the lack of shouts has, in some ways, been welcome allowing me to concentrate on getting our new business up and running.

So, whilst in a meeting at our offices, my little friend made himself known and I was apologising and disappearing out of the door in one bumbling move as the shock of my alerter going off took hold!

For a change I wasn't first in and Mark had already taken the drivers position. So I'd be in the back as a BA wearer with Simon Reeves. It would be nice to be driven for a change instead of being the chauffeur...

Maybe not though. The tip sheet was sending us to a flat fire literally just around the back of the fire station in Normanshurst Close and the two words that makes the adrenalin surge just a tad more - "persons reported" was tagged on to the end.

 It's not even a minutes drive from the station to Normanshurst Close and we could see a hive of activity outside the affected property. And once Dennis had seen the BA Entry Control board set up he shouted the customary "two to the board" order meaning Simon and I hotfooting it to BAECO just as soon as we'd pulled up.

As is usual at these sort of jobs it's organised chaos as hosereels are run out, followed by a covering jet and a whole host of other kit. No sooner had we arrived at Entry Control and we were ordered to get under air straightaway as we were going in immediately. A fire had been located but the incident was still 'persons reported'.
Simon and I got under air, did our checks and were then making our way towards the flat with our hosereel when the shout went up that a casualty had been found. We dropped the hosereel and went to the front door ready to meet the first BA team and the casualty.

The door to this property was uPVC which aren't easy to break into. The first BA team had entered through the space that the bottom panel had occupied before being removed by our 'big red key' - the door enforcer. And with the rest of the door refusing to budge, this was the way out with the casualty too. Kneeling down and reaching in to the flat we were able to grab hold of the casualty as Phil and Ben passed her out to us. Then, with the aid of another firefighter, we got the lady out to the waiting paramedic.

I think it was fairly certain that only one person was likely to have been in the property but we have to make sure. So, while Phil and Ben continued their original route around the flat, Simon and I went in through thre front door and off to the right into what we quickly discovered was the bedroom.

At this point the fire still hadn't been extinguished and we found a dark, ominous orange glow ahead of us as we proceeded into the room at low level. The rise in temperature also signalled that we were getting close to the fire!  Simon dealt with the fire as I continued to sweep around the room searching for any further casualties, thankfully not finding anyone else.

With the fire now out and windows being opened the smoke began to clear quite quickly. This allowed us to see the devastation that fire so easily creates in such a short while. We stayed in the bedroom for another 15 minutes or so damping down and checking for hotspots. We were also careful not to disturb the area too much as Fire Investigation would be arriving to try and ascertain the cause of the fire.

And with our air supply dwindling we emerged into the sunlight ready to drop our sets and relax our tunics. This new fire kit is excellent but I was feeling just a tad warm and eager to strip off and grab a bottle of water...

A good all round team effort by everyone, as usual. Special mention to Phil and Ben as the first BA team in. It's never an easy job. Gaining entry, plenty of smoke and heat, and then dragging the casualty to safety - well done guys.

Job done. Back to the fire station, clean our BA sets and then back to work to pick up where I'd left off...

Flat fire, Normanston Drive - persons reported

After a busy week at work, with some momentous business decisions being taken, I was really looking forward to snuggling down in my pit and getting a half decent night's sleep.

And when you're looking forward to the Land of Nod it's guaranteed that someone or something will do its utmost to spoil things...

Last night just proved the point. Bang on 1am my little adrenalin enducing friend kicked off and had me spring from the warmth and comfort of my bed.

After struggling with clothes, door keys, alerter and trainers, I was jogging over to the station hoping that the chilly night air would raise me from the stupified state I found myself in!

First in, drivers tally up and then get the tip sheet to see where we were off to... Just a matter of a couple of hundred metres away from the fire station, on Normanston Drive.

Some of the guys coming in had had to pass the property but hadn't seen anything untoward.

Tipped out with a crew of six and seconds later pulled up outside the flat where quite a few Police officers had now arrived. Straightaway we could see thick black smoke billowing out of the front, first floor window.

Pump in, open the tank, turn on the supply to the hosereels and one hosereel is pulled completely out (60m) to cover the distance from the road to the flats. Then I pulled out our flaked lengths of 45 and charged this to act as our covering jet, should it be required.

By now our BA team of Mel and Gary had entered the front door and were making their way to the first floor to tackle the seat of the blaze.

I now needed to set into a hydrant and, unusually there was one right outside the affected property.

Now this has to be a first for me... Nine out of our full complement of 10 on call firefighters had turned in but, of course, we can only take a maximum of 6 on the pump. The other three, with the blessing of Control, jogged to our assistance - not quite Knights in shining armour but their arrival was very welcome.

Soon after we arrived the incident became Persons Reported which meant the on call firefighters from Lowestoft South and an ambulance would now be mobilised.

Red Watch put in a BA team, initially with a search and rescue brief and then to assist with ventilation of the property.

We put up a 9m ladder to the rear of the property to check the roof space for fire spread and hotspots. And, for the first time, our Safe Working at Height equipment was used operationally.

From the initial 10 minutes of manic activity we were suddenly at that point where calm has descended, pumps are leaving the scene, equipment is being made up and thoughts are turning to a cuppa and slipping back into a nice warm bed...

Perhaps a snooze is in order this afternoon.

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Fire - St.Peters Street, Lowestoft

So there we were having our crew piccy taken to commemorate the opening of North Lowestoft Fire Station when the turnout alarm made its presence felt. It takes us a few seconds to react as the turnout alarm isn't quite as strident as the doorbell! Is that someone at the door or have we got a shout?

It's a shout... Came through on the tip sheet as Loft at a property on St.Peters Street in Lowestoft, barely half a mile from the fire station.

Of course we are now very much the focus of attention as we busy ourselves with getting mobile. Funny how having 60 odd people watch you makes things happen in slow motion... Everyone had helpfully moved to one side but this meant I had to push my way through the crowd to hit the big black button that opens the front and rear appliance bay doors. A few 'Excuse me, thank you's' later and I was able to get to the drivers seat of the pump.

Pre-flight checks - radio on, handheld radios, tip sheet, crew of six, seatbelts, 999 button pressed and we're good to roll. Stand back folks!

I'm hoping there's some really good pics of me as we pulled out, steely jawed and a determined look on my face! I think I was more worried about mowing down an honoured guest on the inside or a protestor on the outside, so the look is probably not that good.

By the time we got to the bottom of Normanston Drive we could see the smoke billowing up from the affected property. As we pulled up everyone got to work. Mel and Jason donning BA, Mark setting up BA Entry Control, Gary getting the short ex ladder off, me putting the pump in and getting the hosereel laid out and Dennis putting in an Assistance Message of Make Pumps 4.
We then laid out and charged our flaked lengths of 45, ready to use as a covering jet.

Dennis stuck his head round the front door only to be confronted with the sight of a well developed fire at the top of the stairs. Mel and Jason entered the house, made their way to the stairs and then advanced up them to tackle the seat of the fire.

Meantime, I'm setting in to the hydrant which, thankfully, was just across the road, outside the Tudor Rose pub.

The fire was brought under control quickly, also being attacked in the adjoining property by the on call firefighters from Lowestoft South.

And soon the cavalry was arriving - the Hydraulic Platform (HP) and support pump from Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft 01 (just back from the RTC on the Barnby Bends).

The HP backed right up to us so that they could get good access to the roof. Their crew then removed tiles to allow ventilation and to attack any hotspots in the roof space. And instead of getting their support pump set in to them, I just supplied the HP with enough water for damping down.

And that was that...

A big thank you to the guys at Lowestoft College for supplying hot drinks and muffins. You're stars!

And Councillor Colin Spence, who had only just officially opened North Lowestoft Fire Station, was brought down to the job by the Dep to see, first hand, what it is the cheapest to run Fire and Rescue Service in the UK actually does. That's a top rate service delivered by a dedicated team of firefighters - many of whom where on call firefighters - just the people the Dep had been speaking so warmly of just minutes before.

They say that actions speak louder than words...

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Flat fire - Commercial Road, Lowestoft

Well that's the first shout we've had in daylight hours for what seems absolutely ages...

I was at work, concentrating hard (as I do) when my alerter burst into life, sending me about a foot into the air!

The traffic on the way to the fire station seemed to be going at a walking pace, with a line of cars stuck behind a frequently stopping bus.

I was second in, picked up one of the BA slots and then quickly changed into fire gear. Close behind came Dennis, using Fire Service jargon, saying "It's going like a bastard". If you hadn't worked it out for yourself, this means 'there is a well developed fire'.

Then Cheesey arrives giving us the same professional opinion of the fire.

We're off to Commercial Road in Lowestoft to a fire in a first floor flat. Soon after getting mobile we hear an assistance message go in for 'Make Pumps 4, persons reported'. That last bit always tends to focus the mind, especially if you're a BA wearer.

As we approached the railway station smoke was visible coming from the rear of the property and up over the roof from the front.

We pulled up behind Lowestoft 01 and Mel and I made our way to the BA board. Gary and Rudi from Red Watch were already in the building attacking the fire with a hosereel.

Mel and I started up and went into the building to assist team 1 in searching the property for any casualties, making our way up to the heavily smoke-logged second floor. We started opening windows to vent the property and could start to see a noticeable thinning of the smoke. We checked the second floor and were happy that no one was in there.

By this time the fire was virtually out on the first floor and that was found to be clear too.

And that was it for us. Out of the building, removed our sets, reported our findings to Rachael who was BAECO today. The BA board was set up in a rather unfortunate position - right outside the door to Lowestoft's only sex shop! And I didn't have my camera...

Final inspections of the property were carried out, all the gear and hose made up and we were off back to the station to clean our BA sets and back to work.
Which reminds me... I'm typing this when I should really get some jobs finished before the weekend.

Fire - Sunrise Inn, Corton Road, Lowestoft

For the second time this week fire crews from Lowestoft, Beccles and Great Yarmouth have fought a blaze at the Sunrise Inn on Corton Road, Lowestoft.

This morning our alerters rattled themselves silly at 0615 and I hot-footed it over to the fire station.

When crews arrived at the scene they were met by a well involved fire and did well to contain it to the rear of the building. The incident was escalated to Make Pumps 4 plus the Hydraulic Platform and its support pump from Great Yarmouth.

The fire was initially fought from outside the building with crews entering once the blaze was under control. The affected rooms were cleared of debris with parts of the roof removed also.

And, as asbestos was found and exposed in the building we all have to be 'decontaminated'. Wash down fire kit at the incident, remove it and bag it for specialist cleaning. Then off to Lowestoft South to charge our BA cylinders, fill up with diesel and get some spare fire kit.

Finally back to Normanshurst and home for midday and absolutely no enthusiasm for going into work now...

Fire - Rants Score, Lowestoft

Firstly, an apology for the complete lack of posts on here... Life has been so hectic lately and the Fire Service has been quite quiet. Add the two together and you get nothing posted!

As seems to be the norm these days, I'd nodded off on the sofa last evening. And with me well and truly in the Land of Nod I must have leapt about five feet in the air when my alerter went off!

There I was careering around the house finding socks, shoes, alerter (that's the thing making all the noise and flashing like a set of demonic disco lights), mobile, cuddly toy, fondue set - try to focus my eyes a bit better... drop the cuddly toy and fondue set and make it to the front door. Could I get the key in the door to lock it? Could I f**k! Really must get these eyes open! Right, door locked and now the run (make that a slow jog) across the main road to the fire station. Luckily I made it across the road in one piece and got the station opened up before the rush and my tally up as driver.

Tell myself that, as I'm driving, those bloody eyes really need to be wider than slits!

Right, where are we going? Grab the tip sheet - fire in a flat at Rants Score, in the town centre. It's us and Lowestoft 01 going.

Soon the place is swarming with bodies and we're out on to Normanston Drive. Within a couple of minutes we pull up at the top of Rants Score to see a BA crew committing and smoke coming from the open door and first floor windows.

Gary and Jason don their BA sets and make their way to the BAECO board to form the Emergency Team

Meanwhile I run out a length of 70 to Lowestoft 01 to keep them topped up while Shambles sets into a nearby hydrant to feed me. Next its deploy the two flaked lengths of 45 and branch we keep in the locker bay and charge this with water - a quick way to get a covering jet out and ready.

And as second pump in we also tend to get tasked with putting back messages to Control. First message for me was an assistance message of Make Pumps 3 and that an aerial appliance was required (the hydraulic platform (HP) from Great Yarmouth plus its support pump). Requesting the HP was precautionary as the building was four storeys and the HP would be invaluable if the fire broke through to the roof.

I also had to request the attendance of the Police as the fire was of a suspicious origin - multiple seats of fire don't usually happen by accident...

Thankfully the fire was extinguished quickly with hotspots being checked for with the Thermal Image Camera.

I got in just before midnight and off to bed. Why is it that two hours before I just couldn't wake up and now, when it's time for shut eye, I'm wide awake?

Fire at Wessex Foods, Lowestoft - part 3

For the best part of a week we had a presence up at Wessex Foods, just in case things kicked off again.

My last stint up there was last Tuesday, with my alerter having gone off just before 11am.

So, with a crew of four, we positioned ourselves outside the now desolate reception and offices. We were relieving Leiston who had been dealing with some troublesome hotspots on the roof above the canteen.

We took a proactive view on these hotspots and Mel with Greg forced open the fire door into the first floor canteen. This obviously introduced more oxygen and the smoke got thicker, rising from the roof edge. With the help of crowbars they were able to peel back some of the roof and direct a hosereel onto the smouldering interior.

It now seemed as though more smoke was issuing from the front of the building. To combat this more effectively than what we could achieve, the Hydraulic Platform from Yarmouth was moved around to us with me supplying them with water. That's the first time I've had to supply an HP as they usually get fed from their own support pump (which was still there). But as we were already set into the hydrant it was decided that we should do the pumping. It was now a juggling act between keeping enough water in our tank (not over-running the supply) and giving enough pressure to the HP crew some 50ft above us. With a bit of tweaking and cross-border co-operation we managed to get a good jet over the dilapidated roof.

The HP crew suddenly headed for the ground at a rapid rate of knots having found themselves breathing in Ammonia that had suddenly appeared around them.
A hasty conference with the refrigeration engineers ensued with one of them going up in the cage to try to identify the source of the leak.

And before you knew it, our reliefs, in the shape of Aldeburgh, turned up.

We then beat a hasty retreat to Lowestoft South Fire Station to diesel up and snatch a quick cup of tea... Just as the tea arrived the turnout alarm sounded - the first time I've heard it and boy, does it sound odd. It's a cross between a ships siren, a cat with its head stuck in a door and a distressed cow!

White Watch took out Ladder 1 and we heard them book mobile to Camps Heath, back on the north side of the river and our patch. With the nod from Dennis I radioed Control and booked us available, just in case White Watch wanted our help. Now for my cup of tea. As I savoured the hot, sweet brew, Neil Henderson's voice cut across the airwaves with, "Assistance message from Lowestoft 01, make pumps two, thick smoke seen from Bridge Road". So before they'd even got halfway to the incident and on seeing the smoke, Neil had, quite rightly, decided to get us rolling too.

Back at Lowestoft South we jumped aboard our trusty steed and started to pull out of the yard, just waiting for the Fire Priority message to come from Control. And sure enough, within seconds Dennis was answering the Fire Priority and booking us mobile to the incident.

It was now about quarter past four and the traffic was already busy, starting with the six-way roundabout right outside Lowestoft South. The roundabout was negotiated fairly quickly and then we headed towards Oulton Broad through the thickening traffic. Cotmer Road, running down to the Flying Dutchman pub was solid and so it was all the way down the outside before cutting in at the traffic lights. Now the traffic was backed up over the railway bridge and so edging forward on the opposite side of the road I was able to see the way clear and head around the queue to the Victoria Road roundabout. A few quick shimmies and we were through Oulton Broad and into Hall Road and ever closer to the pall of black smoke over Camps Heath.

After slowly picking my way down a dirt track we pulled up behind White Watch to see a large metal tank with flames shooting out of every orifice... This had been used as a paint store and was now in the process of being cut up. Sparks plus fumes equals flames and black smoke.

Andy Jackson on Ladder 1 got foam to work through the hosereels and I supplied our full tank to ensure they had enough water to finish the job.

And now we get to go home, finally getting in the door at half five... Oh, but it's Drill Night tonight so another two hours with the Fire Service cleaning the fire engine and making sure we've got all the kit we should have after what has been an eventful few days...

 

 

 

 

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Fire at Wessex Foods, Lowestoft - part 2

View the first part of Fire at Wessex Foods, Lowestoft »

Our crew were relieved last night and were able to get off home at around 1am this morning...

And the feeling I have in my water from time to time proved right with the alerters going off just after 7am this morning. It didn't take a genius to work out that we were back off to Wessex Foods as a relief crew ourselves.

So, in the early morning drizzle we made our way back to the South Lowestoft Industrial Estate and took over from the Framlingham pump, letting them wend their weary way home.

There were still areas of the fire that we couldn't easily reach. No crews were going to be committed to the building due to the possibility of collapse. The best we could do was to position ground monitors to send jets of water into the interior of the cold stores. Every so often we would venture back to see the effect of the water or to shut the water off and reposition the monitor.

We were then tasked with setting up a water supply for the Turntable Ladder which was on its way up from Ipswich. This was two lines of 70mm hose from our pump on Tower Road, through a corn field and back into the rear of the factory yard.

And that was about it for us. White Watch from Lowestoft South relieved us at around 12.30, home, shower and now try to get on with some of my own work...
But there's every chance that we'll be called in again later today - oh joy!

A big thank you must go to the Salvation Army Emergency Response Unit who attended the incident last night to provide food and drinks to the fire crews. Staffed by volunteers, they do a fantastic job in providing sustenance to very hungry and thirsty firefighters.

Also thank you to Morrison's in Lowestoft for taking over from the Salvation Army this morning and providing breakfasts, bacon rolls and hot drinks to the remaining crews.

 

 

 

 

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