Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

Item

4 December 2002

Incidents of Interest: September to November 2002

Report of the Chief Fire Officer

Contact:

Alan House, Deputy Chief Fire Officer

Tel: 023 8064 4000 Ext 205

25 September

Numerous calls were received to a fire at the New Inn, Hawley Lane, Farnborough. Three pumps were mobilised as early indications from callers were that the fire was severe. Within eight minutes of the initial call the officer in charge asked for 6 pumps and an aerial ladder platform. Seven minutes later made pumps up to 10. The fire severely damaged the whole of the 20 metre by 25 metre building of two floors. Two water monitors, 2 jets and an aerial ladder platform was used during firefighting operations and the stop message was not received until more than nine hours after the first call. The Local Authority attended and discussions were held about demolishing the remains of the structure.

4 October

Crews were called to the Gosport Memorial Hospital at Gosport when there was a report of a suspect package which the Police believed necessitated evacuation of the building. The officer in charge asked for the assistance of 6 pump crews to help hospital staff with the evacuation process. When the situation was considered to be safe the crews assisted in helping the patients back into the hospital.

7 October

The Service were called to a thatch roof fire at Godshill Wood near Fordingbridge. Four pumps plus special appliances were initially mobilised and the officer in charge asked for pumps to be made up to nine. Approximately 75% of the thatch was damaged by fire and removed. The incident was brought under control using 5 jets, a hosereel and breathing apparatus. It is interesting to note that since the decision was made to mobilise 4 pumps as the initial attendance, thatched roof fires are extinguished much more quickly. On this occasion a stop message was received approximately four hours after the initial call. This is proof that a heavy initial weight of attack serves well in shortening the time appliances have to be committed to such incidents.

8 October

Six pumps and three special appliances were required to deal with a severe fire in a large country house in Horsebridge Road at Broughton. The building of 20 metres by 15 metres suffered fire damage to 10% of the roof and 20% of the first floor. Two jets, 2 hosereels and 8 breathing apparatus were used during firefighting operations.

9 October

Fire Control received a call to a petrol tanker which had been involved in an accident on the M3 motorway between Basingstoke and Fleet. The articulated tanker had run off the carriageway into the roadside ditches and the driver had to be extricated from the vehicle. His body was removed from the scene of the fatal accident. A protracted incident followed as the vehicle was righted and the fuel off- loaded into another tanker. Bulk foam was mobilised to the scene from the HFRS storage tanks at Eastleigh fire station, together with crews trained to apply it. The fuel transfer took a considerable time and HFRS personnel were in attendance for more than nine hours making the scene safe.

25 to 27 October

The weekend proved particularly busy because of the inclement weather that was encountered in the south of England.

Problems first occurred on Friday 25 October when it was reported by callers that a mini tornado had struck in the Portchester area. The roofs of numerous properties were damaged together with walls blown down and vehicles and trees damaged. The winds continued overnight into Saturday causing few problems that day but returned on Sunday with a vengeance.

Considerable damage was caused across the county with Fire Control receiving 264 calls of which 146 were classed as incidents and 72 being weather related. The south of the county bore the brunt of the problems with Portsmouth, Gosport and Southampton having many incidents.

A complete roof was blown from a property in Portsmouth and a similar incident occurred at a block of flats in Marine Drive West at New Milton. Trees were blown onto buildings and one couple had a very lucky escape when a tree fell onto their car in Southampton, fortunately causing them little injury. Numerous power lines were affected by the high winds causing arcing and many more were actually brought down.

This inclement weather appears to be a regular feature each autumn and it is very fortunate that there had not been too much rain in the preceding period or the county could have suffered similar problems to those of October 1987. During that autumn very heavy rain had caused the ground to soften and the trees were still in full leaf. The heavy winds then brought down hundreds of trees and caused massive damage throughout the south of England.

30 October

A large private dwelling in Headley Road, Grayshott suffered a severe fire. Six pumps were required to bring it under control. Five jets, 2 hosereels and 20 breathing apparatus were used to extinguish the fire in the 34 metres by 20 metres building. Much of the first floor and roof were lost to the fire and crews were involved in firefighting and salvage work for many hours.

Firework activity

We are continuing to experience an increase in nuisance calls caused as a result of fireworks going on sale. There is also an associated increase in the deliberate ignition of accummulated rubbish and pre November fifth bonfires.

The increase in calls caused by November fifth is an expectation, however, the trend has been for this increase in calls to be extended during a period of four to six weeks around the date.

15 November

At 1857 hours there was a serious fire to the ground and first floor of a terraced property in Havant. Three pumps using 6 breathing apparatus and 2 hosereels were used to contain the fire to ground floor. 1 dog rescued.

Additionally, a severe thunderstorm which commenced over the southern area of the County at 1900 hours, resulted in the control room handling many calls for assistance to flooding and lightening strikes, plus the usual increase in AFA calls associated with such storms. A total of 50 incidents were attended between 1800 and midnight.

18 November

Three pumps were called to an RTA at Station Hill, Curdridge, involving a lorry and a car. Two pumps and special equipment unit attended. 1 male believed.

Three pumps, one special equipment unit and a turntable ladder were called to a severe fire on the second floor of a three storey building, approximately 20 metres x 40 metres, used as multi-occupancy flats. To bring the fire under control 8 breathing apparatus, 2 hosereels and 3 jets were used. 1 person was rescued by HFRS.

22 November

Since the commencement of the strike to 0900 hours on 26 November the Joint Operations Control Centre at Netley has handled a total of 318 of which 136 were attended by the military. On a number of occasions when there was a threat to life, strike pickets took HFRS appliances to the scene and in doing so have undoubtedly saved the lives of several people, either by rescue from fire or by their extrication skills at road traffic accidents.

European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998

The proposals within this report are compatible with the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 and considered in the light of the Race Relations (amendment) Act 2000.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose the facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of the report.

None

NB The list excludes:

1 Published works

2 Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act

Dir.fin: HFRA 4 12 2002 Incidents 26 11 2002