Christmas celebrations
are an excuse to have fun, not an excuse for a fire.
With Christmas fast approaching East Sussex Fire & Rescue
service are urging residents of East Sussex and Brighton &
Hove to ensure that their festive arrangements will not place
them at risk of having a fire. Steve Wright for the Service’s
Community Fire Safety section says:-
Fire safety is the last thing on your mind when you’re celebrating.
But think about it – lots of guests, Christmas decorations,
people smoking – all the everyday risks get bigger.
Don’t let fire safety stop you enjoying yourself – identify
the risks and plan ahead.
Decorative Lights
Decorative lights don’t get used every day so give them a
bit of extra thought.
- Check the maximum amps that can be handled by the plug.
- If bulbs blow replace them.
- Turn decorative lights off at night and when you go out.
- Don’t let bulbs touch anything that can burn easily like
paper or fabric.
Candles
Treat candles as you would any other flame.
- Don’t leave them unattended.
- Put them out completely at night.
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Decorations
- Use your common sense and keep decorations and greeting
cards away from heaters, lights, the fireplace and candles.
Having A Party
Do yourself and your visitors a favour—don’t leave fire safety
to the morning after!
- Let your guests know where to find door and window keys.
- Look out for elderly people, children and anyone with
problems getting out.
- Make sure exits are kept clear.
- If people are smoking put out extra ashtrays and make
sure all cigarettes are put out properly.
Remember --- it’s easy to be careless when you are
tired or have been drinking.
To be sure your home is safe the Service will carry out a
FREE Home Safety Visit and where necessary fit Smoke
Alarms free of charge. To take advantage of this service call
the dedicated Home Safety line on 0845 2300252
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Stay safe and have a very merry Christmas
and a happy New Year.
[Steve Wright] |
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Fire - Rystwood
Road, Forest Row
Over 50 firefighters from East Sussex, West Sussex and Kent
worked together to battle a fire in a detached domestic property
in Rystwood Road, Forest Row in the early hours of Tuesday
6th December 2005. A single call was received by East Sussex
Fire & Rescue Service at 0221 hrs by a local resident
reporting a fire in a house. Due to the information given
by the caller 3 appliances were mobilised from Forest Row,
East Grinstead and Uckfield and on arrival found the roof,
first and second floors of the property to be fully alight.
Crews on scene immediately called for further assistance
and in total 6 pumping appliances, an Aerial Ladder Platform
from Tunbridge Wells and a Bulk Water Carrier from Burgess
Hill attended. During the fire fighting operations part of
the buildings roof collapsed and the attendance of the building
control officer from Wealden District Council was required.
[Dick Broady]
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Exercise Second
Refine, SMR Limited, Rye
| The Control of Major Accident Hazards
Regulations 1999 (COMAH) require both the on-site and
the off-site emergency plans made under the regulations
to be revised and tested at least once every three years.
Therefore on Sunday 4th December 2005 the operator of
the SRM Ltd, Rye Harbour hosted a live multi-agency
major emergency exercise named Exercise Second Refine
in order to test both plans. The main objectives being:-
- To exercise the co-ordination and integration of
the emergency response.
- To exercise the tactical and operational elements
of the response.
- To exercise the notification and communications
arrangements for the responding agencies.
- To examine procedures for warning and informing
the public.
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In addition to SRM Ltd employees, East Sussex Fire, Police,
Ambulance crews took part with the support of the Bexhill
& Rother Primary Care Trust, the Environment Agency, Rother
District Council and East Sussex County Council.
The scenario was as realistic and credible as possible. Participants
received no prior notification of the scenario and were expected
to respond according to:-
- the SRM, Rye On-site Emergency Plan,
- the COMAH Off-site Emergency Plan, Operation Refine and
- individual service protocols and guidelines.
An accident was staged involving a lorry and a tanker resulting
in a fire and chemical spill. Fire crews rescued casualties
from the area and used 1-7 foam compound to contain the imaginary
fire. Casualties were then treated and decontaminated by Sussex
Ambulance Service.
The independent observers report concluded that the "Fire
Service response to this exercise was efficient and well rehearsed."
Exercises of this type play a vital role in improving cross
service communication and preparing our crews for Major Incidents.
[Brian Dudman / Dick Broady]
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Fire - St Barnabas'
Church, Bexhill
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Crews from Bexhill, Hastings, Battle
and Eastbourne were called to one of Bexhill-on-Sea's
largest churches, St Barnabas on Monday 21st November
2005 at 14:47 on reports that a fire had broken out
on the ground floor. Initially four pumps were sent
but this was raised to six when the blaze spread to
the roof.
The blaze was soon brought under control by using an
Aerial Ladder platform and 1-7 Foam. Access to the fire
was hampered due to the physical height and the construction
of the church roof. Damage to the church was limited
due to the early warning received by local residents
and the rapid intervention of local crews. The cause
of the blaze is currently being investigated. |
[Derek Masson / images Brian
Wembridge]
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Fire Control
operators actions praised
| Fire Control Operator Sue Ivatt has
this weekend received a Chief Fire Officer's Letter
of congratulations in recognition for her part in saving
the life of a suicidal woman. The letter stated that
Sue's actions were of the "highest
professional standard."
Sue who has worked for East Sussex Fire & Rescue
Service since 1993 was on duty in the Mobilising and
Communications Centre in Eastbourne, when at 1130pm
she received a call from a distressed woman threatening
to jump from Beachy Head. Sue reassured the woman and
kept her talking for one and a half hours until police
units and the police helicopter located her sitting
on the edge of the cliff. Sue stated after receiving
the Chief Fire Officers letter that she was "extremely
proud" but felt her colleagues would have done
exactly the same if they had received the call for help. |
|
Sue Ivatt |
[Dick Broady]
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Invitation for
Tender Applications
The South East Fire and Rescue Services Regional Management
Board invites applications for inclusion in a list of tenderers
to provide consultancy to support the implementation of an
Integrated Workforce Learning, Development and Training Strategy
within the region. Further details are available on the Invitation
for Expression of Interest document [pdf
- 140 KB].
[David Dowling]
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Fire - Wellingtonia
Court, Laine Close, Brighton
| At 0821 hrs today ESFRS received a call
reporting smoke coming from Wellingtonia Court, Laine
Close, Brighton. Initially two pumping appliances were
mobilised and arrived to find smoke throughout the stairwell
of the building. The building consisted of 35 flats
on 5 floors and many of the occupants were unable to
leave the premises. The first crew requested the assistance
of a further 2 pumping appliances and an Aerial Ladder
Platform. |
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The cause of the smoke was found to be a fire in the
main electrical intake which had spread to the 2nd and
3rd floor electrical cupboards. During the operation
10 people were rescued by ladder, 2 by ALP and 5 were
led to safety.
A request was made for 50 people to be rehoused and
this was passed to Brighton and Hove City Council by
Emergency Planning Officer Brian Dudman. Both of the
Counties Red Cross Fire and Emergency support vehicles
attended to provide support and advice to residents. |
[Dick Broady / images Brian Wembridge]
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Parliamentary
Inquiry into the Fire & Rescue Service.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced on Tuesday
8th November 2005 that a Committee has been established to
undertake an inquiry to examine a number of key issues with
regard to the Fire & Rescue Service. In particular, the
inquiry will consider the introduction of Regional Control
Centres and the introduction and implementation of the Firelink
radio service. The Committee will also look at progress made
on implementation of reforms to the Fire & Rescue Service
stemming out of the Government White Paper of June 2003 titled
'Our
Fire & Rescue Service' [ODPM website].
The Committee that will undertake this inquiry are an established
Parliamentary Committee whose remit is to undertake inquiries
into any aspect of specific Government departments. This inquiry
will be charged by Dr Phillis Starkey and is made up of a
cross bench group of MPs. Evidence to the inquiry has to be
submitted by 19th December 2005 and East Sussex Fire &
Rescue Service are considering a response.
As a matter of further information, on 11th November 2005
the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister announced that O2
Airwave Ltd have been awarded the contract for Firelink.
[Des Prichard]
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East Sussex
Fire & Rescue Service working in Partnership with Apetito
and East Sussex County Council to achieve a safer community
As part of its ongoing campaign to drive down risk in the
community, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is working
in partnership with East Sussex County Council and Apetito
to arrange free Home Fire Safety checks.
Senior Fire Safety Officer Adrian Brown said: "This
is an excellent example of partnership working. East Sussex
County Council and Apetito already deal with very vulnerable
people making sure they are safe in their homes on a daily
basis. We will now be making sure that they are safe from
fire supported by a Government initiative. We will also be
able to fit, where necessary, FREE Smoke Alarms."
Statistics from the ODPM indicate that people over 60 are
potentially at greater risk of injury from fire than other
members of the public.
Smoke alarms give the earliest possible warning of fire therefore
greatly increasing the chances of an individual escaping a
fire situation safely, and consequently raising the alarm
to the Fire & Rescue Service earlier, which aids in the reduction
of fire damage to their property and belongings.
NOTE TO EDITORS
The partnership in the West of the county will be launched
on the 10th of November at 11:00 at 37e South Street, Lewes
- the home of 107 year old Mr Ronald Robinson. Local MP Mr
Norman Baker (subject to availability) will also be present.
The partnership will be launched in the East of the county
on the 11th of November at 10:30 at 30 Lichgate Close, Bexhill.
The local MP Mr Greg Barker will attend (subject to availability).
Editors are welcome to send photographers to these venues.
[Steve Wright]
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Fireworks Campaign
With bonfire night fast approaching, East Sussex Fire &
Rescue Service and Sussex Police are issuing this timely reminder
about the dangers associated with fireworks and to remind
you of the firework safety code.
- Only buy fireworks marked British Standard 7114.
- Don't drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
- Keep fireworks in a closed box.
- Follow the instructions on each firework.
- Light fireworks at arms length, using a taper.
- Stand well back.
- Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it
hasn't gone off, it can still explode.
- Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them.
- Always supervise children around fireworks.
- Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves.
- Never give sparklers to children under five.
- Keep pets indoors.
- Don't let off noisy fireworks after 11pm
Statistics show that 139 injuries were directly caused through
fireworks in the South East in 2004 and each year the number
is growing. Nationally there were 1136 injuries resulting
from firework incidents in 2003 and 1160 in 2004. Most of
these incidents occur at the family home and involve rockets
or sparklers. In 2004 East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
attended 17 fire incidents caused by fireworks.
The new firework regulations, which were introduced last
year, make it an offence:
- To sell fireworks to under 18's.
- For anyone under the age of 18 to possess fireworks in
a public place.
- To throw a firework in the street or any public place.
- To set off fireworks after 11.00 pm (midnight on November
5th, or 1.00 am following New Year's Eve, the Chinese New
Year or Diwali).
Case History
Last Bonfire night, Chris O'Brian and her family were having
a firework party at their home in East Grinstead when the
base of a firework exploded and sent flares shooting out in
all directions. One flare bounced off the house and landed
on her daughter which caused serious 2nd and 3rd degree burns.
Following a year of hospital treatment for her burns, Chris'
daughter has now finished treatment. Chris is now campaigning
to prevent the sale of fireworks to individuals and encourage
people to attend well-organized displays instead.
[Mark Marsden / Bob Trotter]
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Serious fire
caused by candle
Following an incident in the early hours of Tuesday morning,
when a fire caused severe damage to a house in Michelson Close,
St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service
is issuing a warning about the dangers of using candles in
the home.
Hastings Fire Station Manager Mark Webb said "It
seems that people still do not realise how dangerous candles
can be. Ideally we would prefer people not to use candles
at all but, if they insist on doing so, then they should be
extremely careful. Candles should always be placed on a stable
surface (but never on a television), well away from anything
flammable such as clothing or curtains, and they should always
be in a proper candle holder. The most important thing though
is to never, ever leave a candle unattended. Even if you're
only going to be out of the room for a minute, they must be
extinguished."
He continued "This fire had the
potential to cause death or serious injury and demonstrates
yet again the importance of having working smoke alarms fitted."
For a free Home Safety Visit from the Fire & Rescue Service,
please call 0845 230 0252.
[Mark Webb]
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East Sussex
Fire & Rescue Service Launches a New Road Safety Strategy
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (ESFRS) has announced
that it is to launch a new road safety strategy during national
“Road Safety Week” which runs from the 7th to
the 13th of November this year.
The strategy recognises the vital role the Fire & Rescue
Service has in contributing to the wider community safety
agenda and in particular to the reduction in the number of
people killed or seriously injured on our roads.
The strategy outlines how ESFRS will work in partnership
with other agencies, in particular the City and County Councils,
local councils and Sussex Police, supporting them to achieve
Government set Public Service Agreement targets. The targets
call for a 40 % reduction in the number of people killed or
seriously injured and a 50% reduction in the number of children
killed or seriously injured by the year 2010 from the 1994-98
baseline average.
The strategy outlines the various education and awareness
programmes which Service personnel will be involved with over
the coming years. It also explains how the Service will seek
to continually improve its emergency rescue capability for
those occasions when it is needed.
Des Prichard, Chief Fire Officer & Chief Executive of
ESFRS, says, "Our staff within East
Sussex Fire & Rescue Service deal with the aftermath of
road traffic collisions on a daily basis. It is only right
therefore that we direct the appropriate resources towards
trying to prevent such incidents. The focus of this strategy
is to encourage and support partnership working with other
agencies involved with road safety with the aim of making
the roads safer for everyone."
As a way of demonstrating ESFRS commitment to the issue of
road safety and in particular to show support for the theme
of this years Road Safety Week, which is aimed at preventing
child deaths and injuries on the roads, Mr Prichard has offered
to undertake school crossing patrol duties at a school site
in Seaford where East Sussex County Council have been unable
to establish a permanent patrol.
David Bradley, Senior School Crossing Supervisor with East
Sussex County Council says, "East
Sussex Fire & Rescue Service contacted us following a
local news item on which I explained the current difficulties
we are facing in recruiting suitable people for school crossing
patrol duties. They have offered to support our recruitment
campaign and we are working on ways in which we can work together
on this and other road safety issues. I think it is a fantastic
reflection of the commitment of East Sussex Fire & Rescue
Service to road safety and the safety of children in particular
that the Chief Fire Officer himself has offered to help out
in this way."
[Mark O'Brien]
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Third LIFE for
Young People in East Sussex
Following two remarkably successful local pilots, 12 young
people from Rother involved in, or at risk of becoming involved
in, anti-social behaviour - whether it be in the form of fire
setting or other acts in the community, alongside young victims
of crime and teenagers with low self esteem - are to take
part in East Sussex’s third LIFE project.
Local Intervention Fire Education, or LIFE, is a Fire Service
project devised by London Fire Brigade in 2002 that seeks
to improve fire safety and reduce anti-social behaviour amongst
young people aged 13-19, and looks to improve the life chances
of everyone who takes part.
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s LIFE projects
are run by Station Manager Mani Gilbert, and Watch Manager
George Wippich, and this third session will run from Monday
24 – Friday 28 October 2005.
LIFE’s aims are to reduce fire service call-outs, cut
fire deaths and injuries, improve the safety of fire crews
and the communities they serve and lower the financial cost
of fires by engaging young people to tackle fire safety and
anti-social behaviour issues.
ESFRS have already run two LIFE projects in June 2005, when
24 people took part in a unique range of activities including
rescue techniques, using breathing apparatus and learning
how to evacuate a building in case of fire. They were also
taught to use firefighting equipment, run out hoses and learned
how to maintain the fire engines and equipment.
Within just weeks of the courses ending one teenager from
Bexhill, who attended the first project, managed to put the
first aid skills he learned to use. On 22nd June Laurence
Gilbert, 15, helped a fellow student at Bexhill High School
after the 13 year old speared his arm on a fencepost. Deputy
Chief Fire Officer Len Richards, who later presented the student
with an award at his school, said that without Laurence’s
actions the boy’s injuries could have become much more
serious.
The course ends in a formal 'passing out parade' on Friday
28th October, when the families and friends of those taking
part, alongside representatives from the Fire & Rescue
Service, watch the young people demonstrate the practical
skills they have learned and receive a certificate of achievement.
Press are also invited to this ceremony which will be held
at Bexhill Fire Station, Beeching Road.
Funding for the project comes from the Safer Rother Partnership,
which works in partnership to prevent young people becoming
involved in criminal activity and to reduce the impact of
anti-social behaviour on our communities. The Partnership
is proud to support ESFRS in this innovative and effective
project. The feedback from young people and the agencies that
work with them has shown us that this scheme builds confidence
and provides them with a different perspective on their opportunities
in the future. As we work with a partnership approach all
referrals are made by a range of Rother-based agencies including
the Youth Offending Team, Youth Development Service and Sidley
Community Association.
During the pilot scheme trialled by London Fire Brigade there
was:
- 96% attendance rate on the courses
- 90% non offending rate among participants six months after
attending the course
- 46% reduction in non accidental fires across the borough
- 76% reduction in attacks on firefighters
- three young men helped into local community employment
- six people from ethnic minority backgrounds embarked on
the fire service recruitment process
- one young man working as a probationary firefighter, and
another in training
- five young people taking part in a mentoring scheme with
firefighters
- 30 young people continuing to work with the fire service
one night per week as part of the Achieving Safer Communities
scheme
| Safer Rother Partnership is a multi-agency body whose
prime role is the reduction of crime and disorder, and
to make the Rother area a safer place. |
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[Mani Gilbert / George Wippich]
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Building Collapse,
31 Caves Road, St Leonards
| At 1938hrs on 13th October the Eastbourne
based Mobilising and Communications Centre of East Sussex
Fire & Rescue Service received a single call reporting
that a building had collapsed in St Leonards. Three
pumping appliances, two Operational Support Units and
a Heavy Rescue Unit were immediately mobilised from
across East Sussex to the address in Caves Road.
On arrival the first crews found that the front of
a two-storey building consisting of a shop with a flat
above, had collapsed across the road. An immediate search
to ascertain that no persons were trapped was made and
adjoining buildings were evacuated. The crews also asked
for the support of further appliances, an Aerial Ladder
Platform and the Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support
vehicle. Three occupants left the building and were
assisted by the Red Cross and Hastings Borough Council. |
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Fire crews stood by until 2220hrs when the incident was handed
over to the Building Control Officer from Hastings Borough
Council and the Police.
[Dick Broady / images - Brian
Wembridge]
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Location Announcement
of the South East Regional Control Centre
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has today (Tuesday
11 October 2005) received notification from the Office of
the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) that the fire control centre
for the South East Region, which encompasses East Sussex,
will be located in Fareham, Hampshire.
 |
Although the 'Fire Control' project
is a national project being managed by ODPM, East Sussex
Fire & Rescue Service has worked on an ongoing regional
basis with the ODPM, neighbouring fire and rescue services
and other stakeholders throughout the process.
Councillor Mike Murphy, the Chair of East Sussex Fire
Authority said, "The Government
is making these changes to improve resilience against
all forms of disaster. We understand that this has been
an uncomfortable time for many staff and the trade unions.
Our priority is to focus on supporting our staff through
this period of change." |
| |
| Des Prichard, Chief Fire Officer and
Chief Executive of East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service,
said: "The Chief Fire Officers
Association and the Local Government Association support
the Government's plans for Regional Control Centres
that deliver increased resilience, greater Service interoperability
and provide value for money for local taxpayers. If
the Government wish to deliver services in the way they
describe then this must be a positive step forward.
However, we will be looking for assurances about finance,
governance and technology in the new ways of working."
"As an employer, we are prioritising
the needs of our staff who may be affected by the geographical
location of the South East region control centre." |
|
"Whatever steps we take in the future,
our focus will as always, remain on ensuring that lives are
not put at risk and that we are making East Sussex safer."
The transfer of emergency calls to Fareham, Hampshire will
not take place until 2008/2009 at the earliest.
NOTE FOR EDITORS
- The Fire Control project - the move to regional control
centres - is the result of a review of fire and rescue control
rooms by Mott MacDonald on behalf of central Government.
The project forms part of the National Framework for the
Fire and Rescue Service, which sets the objectives the Government
expects the service to achieve. Copies of the framework
and the Mott MacDonald report are available on the ODPM
FireControl website.
- The new RCC will serve Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East
Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Surrey
and West Sussex, a geographical area of some 7,336 square
miles and serving over eight million people.
- The new Regional Control Centre for the South East will
be located at Kite's Croft a 35 acre site located a short
distance from junction 9 of the M27. The site is between
Segensworth and Fareham in the heart of the Southampton
/ Portsmouth conurbation.
[Dave Dowling]
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Planning your
Bonfire Safely
A serious incident occurred last night, Monday 10th October
2005 when two teenagers were badly burned after pouring a
flammable liquid onto a bonfire in their back garden.
With less than a month until Firework night, East Sussex
Fire & Rescue Service is reminding people about bonfire
safety.
Senior Fire Safety Officer Adrian Brown said "Bonfires
can be great fun but they need to be treated with care and,
as the incident shows, never use flammable liquids like paraffin
or petrol to get it going, as this can result in uncontrolled
spread of fire or explosion."
The following advice applies to bonfires at Firework displays
but is equally relevant to all bonfires.
Planning your Bonfire Safely
- Site your bonfire well away from any trees, bushes, buildings
or sheds.
- Check immediately before lighting that there's no animal
or even a young child hidden inside.
- Never put fireworks on a bonfire, even if they're dud.
- Don't burn dangerous rubbish (e.g. aerosols, paint tins
or foam-filled furniture).
- Spectators need to be at a safe distance from the site.
- Never leave a burning bonfire.
- Don't allow any children to play with the fire.
If you would like further advice, please contact your local
Fire Station or call our dedicated Community Fire Safety advice
number: 0800 731 9119.
[Adrian Brown]
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Fire, Rother
District Council and Police staff commit to safer driving
in Sussex
East Sussex County Council recorded 302 road traffic collisions
(RTCs) during 2004 in the Rother Area. These resulted in 390
casualties, nine of which were fatal. Although these figures
show a significant reduction in the number of fatalities since
the 2003 figure of thirteen, the number of crashes remains
the same.
Every collision, injury or death has a huge impact on society.
It of course has a large impact on the family and friends
of the casualty, but also on the emergency service personnel
that must attend the incident, on businesses though the loss
of a valuable member of staff, and on other road users as
a result of delays due to blocked roads. Each and every one
of us is affected in some way.
Vulnerable roads users such as pedestrians, horse riders
and cyclists are exposed to an increased risk from speeding
vehicles, and therefore the enjoyment of these pastimes is
reduced.
The Safer Rother Partnership is working to further reduce
the number and impact of RTCs in the Rother area.
The Partnership’s initiative this Autumn is to encourage
all Rother District Council, East Sussex Fire & Rescue
Service and Sussex Police employees, and Rother residents
to sign a commitment to drive in a safe and considerate manner.
The commitment is a leaflet which can be signed and sent off
and will delivered to all staff during September 2005.
East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service’s Station Manager Dave
Yates, Chairperson of the Safer Roads Group said "The
use of our roads and lanes as racetracks has got to stop.
The commitment of all our staff to drive slower and with consideration
will have a significant impact on our roads and lanes, making
them feel safer for vulnerable road users such as children
and the elderly. This initiative is available to all residents
of the Rother area of East Sussex and I encourage all to sign
up."
As well as being able to sign up to ‘The Commitment’, the
leaflet also contains information, statistics and tips on
how to keep speed down on the roads.
NOTE FOR EDITORS
Chief Executive Derek Stevens from Rother District
Council, Senior Divisional Officer Gary Walsh from East
Sussex Fire & Rescue and Acting Chief Inspector
Martin Sims from Sussex Police will all be signing up
to ‘The Commitment’ at it’s official launch at BEXHILL
FIRE STATION on 30/9/05 at 1500 hrs.
Safer Rother Partnership is a multi-agency body whose
prime role is the reduction of crime and disorder, and
to make the Rother area a safer place. |
|
[Dave Yates]
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Battle Fire
Station Open Day
Battle Fire Station held its annual Open Day on Saturday
17th September 2005. This event was designed to highlight
the dangers on our roads. About 300 people attended. These
were generally local people but there were visitors from London
and Kent.
The visitors were exposed to displays and information arranged
by East Sussex County Council who operated a sledge that highlighted
the need to be restrained in a car at all times. Sussex Safer
Camera partnership used a display vehicle, which emphasised
driving at an appropriate speed. A local road safety group
were able to demonstrate the educational SID (Speed Indication
Device) that has been purchased by Battle Town Council. Volunteers
will use this over the coming months to remind drivers of
the speed limits around the town.
Battle Fire Fighters carried out a number of demonstrations
involving cutting a car up and rescuing casualties. Station
Manager Dave Yates commented, "This
was a very successful day. The bulk of the rescue work carried
out by Battle Fire Station is the release of persons that
have become trapped in a motor vehicle following a Road Traffic
Collision. Often inappropriate speed is a contributing factor."
"Every collision, injury or death
has a huge impact on society. It of course has a large impact
on the family and friends of the casualty, but also on the
emergency service personnel that must attend the incident,
on businesses though the loss of a valuable member of staff,
and on other road users as a result of delays due to blocked
roads. Each and every one of us is affected in some way."
"Events like these highlight the
hazards and dangers associated with using our roads. All road
users should examine their driving practices and consider
what dangers they are exposing themselves and other road users
too. This is especially so with children and the elderly.
Remember in a collision with a child at 30 mph 80% survive,
at 40mph 80% are killed."
[Dave Yates]
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Family saved
by smoke alarm
A Brighton family had a lucky escape when a fire broke out
under their stairs in the early hours of the morning whilst
they were asleep. Fortunately their house was fitted with
smoke alarms. Although the smoke alarm woke them up, when
they got down stairs they were trapped by locked doors and
windows. Their keys were not immediately available and the
house was in darkness from the fire. Once they found the keys
the family escaped unhurt.
Senior Fire Safety Officer Adrian Brown said, "Once
again this fire shows that smoke alarms really do save lives,
as without this early warning the fire could have had fatal
consequences. As well as having smoke alarms I would also
encourage everybody to have an escape plan so that you are
not trapped by locked doors or windows."
The Fire & Rescue Service will carry out free home fire
safety checks and where necessary fit free smoke alarms. To
book a visit phone 0845 230 0252.
This fire was believed to have started due to an electrical
fault and Fire Investigator Charles Humphries said, "This
fire started around the electrical intake and quickly spread
to other items stored under the stairs. I would advise all
householders not to store goods too close to intakes such
as these."
[Adrian Brown]
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Buckingham
Place, Brighton
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At 9.43am on Friday 16th September 2005, over 70
firefighters attended an incident at 48 Buckingham Place,
Brighton. Due to the severity of the fire, eleven crews
from East Sussex and three crews from West Sussex were
called to attend.
Initial reports suggest a roof fire in a four-storey
residential property converted into flats. All residents
were safely evacuated from the building and no casualties
were reported.
The aerial ladder platform was used to reach the fire
in the roof and 1:7 Foam was used to extinguish the
flames. |
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Deputy Chief Fire Officer Len Richards was in attendance
and said: "It has been a difficult
fire. We had strong winds to deal with this morning
and the property is located on a very steep hill."
Fire crews spent several hours damping down and checking
for hot spots using a thermal image camera. |
[Media Team / images Dick Broady]
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Storing Petrol
Due to the perceived threat of likely petrol shortages, the
Fire Authority would like to offer the following information
and advice to anyone who is considering storing petrol for
their own use.
Senior Fire Safety Officer Adrian Brown said "At
present there is no reason to believe that there will be any
petrol shortage and our advice to members of the public is
not to store any additional supplies. However, for those people
that do, please remember, petrol is classed as HIGHLY FLAMMABLE
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