Elderly couple lose everything in flat fire
An elderly couple have lost everything they own in a fire that broke out in their home.
The fire broke out in the flat in Hungerdown Lane, Chippenham on 26th March. Several other properties were affected in the fire.
Witness, Sue Maslen, who lives nearby said: “There were billows of smoke coming out from the rafters and tiles of the roof. I went to pick up my daughters, and it was all normal, and when I came back there was smoke everywhere. I ran to close the windows because my youngest has asthma.”
Her ten-year-old daughter Angel added: “There was so much smoke everywhere, you couldn’t see much.”
A spokesperson for the fire service said: “The service was called to a fire in a flat in Hungerdown Lane, near the junction with Southmead, at 2.53pm today. The roof and first floor of the building are affected, and part of the roof has collapsed. Five crews – two from Chippenham, and one each from Corsham, Calne and Melksham – are fighting the fire, supported by an aerial appliance from Bath and an incident command vehicle from Stratton. The British Red Cross fire and emergency support service is also in attendance.”
An investigation into the cause of the blaze will now be carried out.
Man suffers severe burns in car fire
A man was seriously injured in a car fire in Cassanos on 18th March.
Firefighters from March attended the incident on Abbeygate Court, near Cassanos at around 9pm. On arrival they found a man with severe burns lying next to the car
A spokesman for the police said: “The man was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries, and has since been moved to a burns unit at a hospital in East Grinstead, Sussex. We are carrying out a joint investigation with the fire service and are keeping an open mind as to how the fire started. Details are still very sketchy and we are keen to speak to the man who was injured.”
It is not known what caused the fire and an investigation will be carried out.
Man escapes fire in flat thanks to smoke alarm
A man managed to escape to a fourth-floor balcony after a fire broke out at his flat in Stonehouse.
The man was taken to Derriford Hospital suffering from smoke inhalation but he is not thought to be in a serious condition.
Firefighters were at the scene quickly and gave the man first aid on the balcony until paramedics arrived.
It is thought that the fire may have started near the television but it is not yet clear if the fire was started by a candle.
Incident commander Phil McKenna, of Greenbank Fire Station said: “The smoke detector probably saved his life, because he was in the affected room at the time. That should act as a strong warning to anyone who does not have one in their home.”
A police spokesman confirmed that the incident was not being treated as suspicious.
Serious injuries in Croydon Police Station explosion
Around 50 firefighters, three ambulances and an air ambulance helicopter attended an explosion at Croydon police station at 11.20am Tuesday March 20. Fire fighters from 10 crews fought for around 2 hours to prevent the fire spreading.
Tej Ajimal from the London Fire Brigade said: “Crews worked hard to bring the fire under control and managed to contain it to the basement area and stop it from spreading to the rest of the police station.”
Four contractors from Vinci Construction UK were working in the basement at the time of the blast. One of the men was airlifted to a specialist unit at the Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford suffering from severe burns and a second man was taken to St George’s Hospital with burns to his face and arms.
Several others received treatment for minor burns and smoke inhalation.
A spokesman for the police said that the explosion happened in the basement firing range which had been decommissioned during the current refurbishment.
A spokesman for Vinci Construction said: “Vinci Construction UK is gravely concerned about the welfare and safety of the construction workers and others affected by this incident and has been working with all emergency services throughout the day to secure the scene of the incident. We are working with the HSE in their ongoing investigation to understand the cause of the explosion.”
Chief Superintendent, Dave Musker said: “Seven people have been injured and five have been taken to hospital. While two are thought to be seriously injured. We want to reassure the public we continue to provide fully operational services to the community of Croydon. Our thoughts and wishes are with those injured.”
Health and Safety Executive are investigating the cause of the incident.
Arson suspected at Lancashire industrial unit
Firefighters attended a large fire at an industrial unit in Elswick in Lancashire on the evening of 18th March.
Four crews arrived at the scene at around 6.34pm on Sunday and remained there until around 10.30pm.
The unit is in a residential area but no other properties were damaged in the fire and no casualties were reported.
Incident Commander, Geoff Etheridge said: “There were some propane cylinders and welding equipment inside. Firefighters worked hard to get this fire under control. There was minimal damage to the adjacent units. The firefighters did a good job to put a stop to it and stop it spreading further.”
It is not yet known what caused the fire but police have confirmed that arson is suspected. An investigation will now be carried out.