On-site Fire Warden Training
Really refreshed my knowledge of fire safety to help me in my role as a fire warden – P. Golby
I found the course very good and I now have more of an understanding of what to expect in the event of a fire – M. Collins
On-site Fire Warden Training
I found the course very interesting and informative – S. Hammond
The course was really informative – C. Duggan
Very informative. I now know a lot more about fire safety in the workplace – L. Phillips
The course was a great help in helping me implement systems at work – S. Snow
A very good insight into fire safety awareness – O. Williams
Small fire at Somerset nuclear power station
A fire broke out in a nuclear power station in Somerset at 11.50am on 16th May.
The fire started in the gas turbine house of the Hinkley Point B nuclear power station
A spokesman for EDF Energy confirmed that on-site fire crews initially dealt with the incident. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service also attended the incident.
The spokesman said: “The fire, in some lagging, was extinguished in a few minutes, before the arrival of the fire service’s appliances. There were no injuries to any personnel. There has been no impact on operational activity at the power station, which continues to safely generate electricity.”
An investigation is being carried out into the exact cause of the fire.
South Yorkshire fire crews say NO to Small Incident Units.
South Yorkshire fire crews say that the introduction of small vans to replace fire engines will cause ‘intolerable risks’ to safety.
The fire service has said that Small Incident Units have already been in successful operation for around two years, with no reported accidents.
The small fire units are commercial vans painted fire service red with the addition of blue lights and high-visibility stripes. The vans are able to carry a limited amount of water.
John Gilliver from the Fire Brigade union said: “Fire professionals know every large fire starts as a small fire and we don’t always know what we will find when we arrive. Firefighters will be put at intolerable risk at incidents if they are deployed in these vans. If a small fire has spread to a building with people inside, then two or three firefighters are not enough to deal with that safely. Everything that makes you a firefighter will push you to enter the building, even with the greatly-heightened risk you will face. We face risks in the hostile environments in which we work, but we know how to limit the risks to us when there are enough personnel, equipment, proper procedures and training. These small fire units will not provide that. It places intolerable pressure on the officers in command at the scene and leaves them vulnerable if anything goes wrong. Firefighters have been killed in situations where there is a lack of personnel, equipment and training. This is all entirely foreseeable and the introduction of these vans is reckless and totally unacceptable.”
A spokesperson for the fire service said “We are extremely disappointed the FBU will still not allow its members to carry out the necessary training for the Small Incidents Unit, which has passed a series of rigorous and independent safety examinations and has responded to more than 700 fires successfully since August 2009. We are keen to introduce the SIU to Elm Lane station in full accordance with the Fire Authority’s decision following a full public consultation. It will respond to small incidents in the Sheffield area, keeping rescue pumps free to attend life-risk incidents. We have always stated the SIU will not be mobilised to any type of premise fire or vehicle fire. We remain committed to the introduction of the SIU to enhance fire cover in the Sheffield area and strongly urge the FBU to allow its members to begin training for the vehicle.”
What do you think?
Councillor appeals for sprinklers in all new homes after Derby fire deaths
Martyn Ford from Derbyshire County Council has called for sprinklers to be installed in all new homes after 6 children died in a house fire in Derby last week.
Mr Ford said: “Sadly it has taken another devastating house fire, claiming six young lives, to yet again highlight the urgent need for domestic sprinklers to be installed in all new-build properties. I realise that we are too late in this instance, lives have been lost and others changed for ever, but it needn’t be like this. As a former member of Derbyshire Fire Authority, I urge all readers to view the Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service website, follow the links to domestic sprinklers and view the incredibly impressive video on just how quickly and effectively a fire in a home is extinguished.
“There is also a link to an e-petition that needs just 100,000 signatures to trigger a debate in Parliament. The Welsh Assembly has already passed legislation requiring sprinklers to be installed — the rest of the politicians in the UK need to start to act very quickly now to catch up and get effective legislation on the statute that empowers local planning authorities to condition sprinklers on every domestic property application. It costs a small amount of money to have a firefighter in every room. We must take action now.”
If you would like to sign the petition to get this issue discussed in parliament all you need to do is click here.