70 firefighters tackle fire at waterfront apartments
A luxury waterside property has been destroyed in a fire in a Devon village.
Over 70 firefighters from across South Devon tackled the fire from boats, neighbouring houses and cliff edges in an attempt to bring the fire under control.
Eight units from Salcombe, Kingsbridge and Modbury, Totnes, Dartmouth, Ivybridge and Plympton along with an incident command unit and support engine from Totnes all attended the incident which broke out at 7.30am on 24th April.
The property is divided into 3 apartments and one is used as a holiday rental and was being used by 2 families with 6 children at the time of the fire. All residents escaped the fire unhurt.
Paul Chambers from the fire service said: “Access to the property was very difficult. It is right on the edge of the water and people next door are having some building work done so we had restricted access because of the scaffolding. The weather was very hot and it did take its toll on the crews. We got the call at 7.30am and we were there until mid afternoon. At least no one was hurt in the incident.”
It is not yet known how the fire started.
Arson suspected at Caversham Age UK charity shop
A charity shop in Caversham was damaged in a suspected arson attack last night.
The blaze broke out in the stock room of the shop at around 11.30pm last night.
Firefighters from Caversham Road tackled the blaze. Dave Hawkins from the fire service said: “We believe there was a forced entry at the back. Police are investigating and we’re carrying out our own investigation. Quite a bit of stock was damaged and the room is destroyed.”
An investigation into the cause of the fire is now underway.
Fireman dies in airport explosion
A fireman has died in an explosion at Cotswold Airport.
45 year old Steve Mills who was the fire services manager at the Kemble airport, died following a cylinder explosion at the airfield at 12.45pm on Friday 15th April.
Mr Mills had been a firefighter at Malmesbury for 10 years before becoming fire services manager at the airport.
Chief fire officer at Wiltshire fire and rescue service said: “Steve was a dedicated and popular member of the team at Malmesbury. We were able to draw on his knowledge, contacts and expertise, which in turn strengthened our ability to serve our local communities, and we recognise and are grateful for the contribution he made. Steve will be greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. All of the crew at Malmesbury are devastated by the loss of a friend and colleague, and the service is giving them as much support as possible at this difficult time.”
The incident was attended by crews from Cirencester and Tetbury fire stations.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are investigating the incident but it is not currently being treated as suspicious.
UK fire stations to be re-built
Chorley fire station is to be rebuilt as part of Government plans costing £48m.
Another 12 fire stations across the UK are also set to be improved as part of the fire service’s largest ever PPP project.
Builders are expected to start on the new development, off Southport Road, next summer and it is thought that the current depot in Weldbank Lane will be demolished after the move.
Ian Tyler of Balfour Beatty, said: “The upgrade of the stations will help meet the changing needs and support the modern practices of the fire and rescue service and provide a better environment for working, learning and training. We look forward to working with Lancashire Fire and Rescue Authority.”
The new station will also incorporate Southern Area headquarters, a training development department and a base for the Urban Search and Rescue team.
Lancashire’s Chief Fire Officer, Peter Holland, said: “This is a major boost for Lancashire. Our fire prevention work with communities has driven down the incidence of fires to their lowest level ever. In terms of emergency cover, today’s demands on Fire and Rescue Services are more challenging than ever, with a diversity of fire and other risks, volumes of traffic and road networks which were not envisaged when the fire stations in Blackburn, Fleetwood, Burnley and Chorley were built. “I am confident that these new stations will enable us to keep ahead of the pace of change in those areas. They will also ensure that the first-rate standards of fire and rescue cover we provide there continue to be maintained.”
40 prisoners evacuated in prison fire
A Wiltshire Prison put its emergency fire evacuation procedure into action yesterday when a fire broke out at around 9.15am.
Three fire appliances attended the incident which broke out in a two-storey cell block at the prison in Erlestoke.
Forty prisoners were evacuated from the building and three fire engines attended the incident.
A spokesperson at the local fire brigade, confirmed that the fire service had carried out fire drills at the prison earlier this year to ensure they would be fully prepared for such an incident.
It is not thought that the fire was started deliberately, and no casualties have been reported.