Archived decisions
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority |
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29 May 2003 |
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Incidents of Interest from January 2003 to May 2003 |
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Report of the Chief Fire Officer |
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Contact: |
Alan House, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tel: 023 8064 4000 Ext 205 |
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Introduction |
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28th January |
A fire occurred at a Day Care Centre for handicapped children at Station Road, Petersfield. The first crews in attendance quickly made pumps up to four and eventually to six with an aerial appliance. The fire was located on the first floor with spread to the roof. Extinguished using 1 jet, 2 hosereels and 8 breathing apparatus. |
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30th January |
The first of a series of serious thatched roof fires during the current reporting period occurred at Chapel Drove, Horton Heath. Officers made pumps 8 to ensure sufficient manpower was on site to create successful firebreaks in the thatch. It is pleasing to report that within an hour a vertical firebreak in the thatch had been achieved using 2 jets, 2 hosereels and 4 breathing apparatus with personnel removing the thatching straw. | ||
Conditions were very arduous and unpleasant for the firefighters due to freezing temperatures. A gritting lorry was requested to assist with the treacherous roadway. The fire was brought under control by 0156 hours, making this a quick and successful stop. | |||
3rd February |
Pump crews from New Milton and Lyndhurst together with a multi role vehicle (with the large animal rescue load) were mobilised to Marine Parade West at Barton on Sea to rescue a cow that had fallen over the cliff. The cow had fallen approximately 18 feet but the vet confirmed that it was in a fit state to move. | ||
The Technical Line Rescue Unit were also mobilised to assist. The cow was removed from the mud, fortunately before the high tide, and winched up the cliff face in a protracted and difficult operation using ropes and strops. | |||
20th February |
A total of 9 calls were received in the control room reporting a fire at Byrd Gardens, Brighton Hill, Basingstoke. One of the calls was received from one of three young people who were trapped by smoke inside the building. | ||
The control operator, despite her limited experience in the control room, provided excellent fire survival advice to the caller. She advised that the three people should group together in one room with a quilt at the bottom of the closed door to stop the smoke entering and a window open to allow fresh air into the room. On arrival the fire crews were able to quickly effect a rescue using a short extension ladder to the window with the three young people being taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. | |||
28th February |
A fire with persons reported at Meyrick Road, Stamshaw, Portsmouth was quickly dealt with by crews from Portsmouth stations. The fire was extinguished using 3 hosereels and 6 breathing apparatus and the body of an elderly male was recovered by the crews. | ||
4th March |
A potentially very serious incident was dealt with at Rank Hovis, Solent Road, Southampton when fire broke out in machinery on the first floor of a building consisting of seven floors. A young female was rescued after becoming trapped in the lift on the fourth floor. She was extremely distressed and had to be taken to hospital to recover. The fire was eventually extinguished using 1 jet from a dry-riser and 10 breathing apparatus with 6 pumps being deployed during the operation. | ||
9th March |
Crews from Basingstoke were mobilised to deal with an horrendous road traffic accident at Scrapps Hill near Basingstoke. The incident involved a collision between two cars, with three fatalities and one further person being removed to hospital. Crews were at the scene for four hours to complete the rescue. | ||
12th March |
Nine pumps were required to deal with a thatched roof fire at Ogdens, near Fordingbridge. Unfortunately the roof could not be saved and was severely damaged by fire with 4 hosereels and 30 breathing apparatus used to bring it under control. | ||
13th March |
A severe fire in the first floor and roof of a two-storey building in Cromer Road at Millbrook, Southampton necessitated the attendance of six pumps and an aerial ladder platform. The first floor and roof were severely damaged and 1 jet, 2 hosereels and 10 breathing apparatus were used during firefighting operations. | ||
27th March |
A severe fire at Pinewood Infant School, Pinewood Park at Farnborough destroyed 50% of a single storey building 30 metres by 30 metres. Six pumping appliances attended and used 6 jets, a water monitor from an aerial ladder platform and breathing apparatus to contain the fire. Scenes of Crime and Fire Investigation Officers liaised to identify the cause of fire and two youths were subsequently arrested. | ||
29th March |
A fire involving the thatched roof of a cottage at Back Lane, Vernham Dean was dealt with by the initial predetermined attendance of four pumps. One hosereel was used to extinguish the fire and approximately 10% of the thatch was destroyed. | ||
29th March |
Crews were mobilised to deal with a vehicle fire with persons reported at Moyles Court sandpit, Linwood Road at Rockford. After extinguishing the fire the body of an unidentified female was removed from the vehicle. | ||
6th April |
An initial call to a chimney fire at a large detached property in Hoe Street at Hambledon eventually attracted the attendance of six pumps as fire was discovered in the roof of the building. The private domestic dwelling of two floors 35 metres by 20 metres suffered severe fire damage to the first floor and roof. Three jets, 2 hosereels and 40 breathing apparatus were used to extinguish the fire and salvage work was carried out on the ground floor. | ||
7th April |
Ten pumping appliances were required to deal with a further thatch fire at Poplar Lane in Bransgore. Seventy per cent of the thatch was lost on the roof of the 20 metre by 10 metre cottage. One jet, 6 hosereels and 40 breathing apparatus were used during the protracted firefighting operation. | ||
10th April |
Crews from Alresford and Winchester dealt with a fatal road traffic accident when a car being driven by a female left the A31 road, went through the barrier on a raised section and fell 40 feet onto the Titchborne Road below. There were concerns that there were child seats in the car and crews searched the area with thermal imaging cameras to try to locate children but none were found. It was later established that the driver was the only person in the vehicle. | ||
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19th April |
Five pumps and numerous special appliances were required when fire broke out at a block of flats in Sedbergh Road, Southampton. The fire involved two properties in a terrace of houses and a number of residents had to be evacuated to hospital after suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation. The fire caused severe damage to the ground floors, first floors and roofs of two of the properties. Extinguished using 2 jets, 2 hosereels, a water monitor from the Aerial Ladder Platform and 26 breathing apparatus. | ||
19 April |
The Service were called to deal with a car fire in Derritt Lane, Sopley. On arrival found the body of a male person within the burning vehicle. Police and Fire Officers are investigating the death. | ||
21st April |
Police and Fire Officers are investigating the cause of a second serious school fire in the County within a month. Six pumps and special appliances attended Redbridge Community School in Cuckmere Lane, Southampton. A school building of 3 storeys, 15 metres by 20 metres suffered severe damage to the first and second floors requiring 2 jets, 2 hosereels, a water monitor from the Aerial Ladder Platform and 8 breathing apparatus to extinguish. | ||
6 May |
A further thatched roof fire occurred at Meadow Cottage in the village of Forton near Andover. The building, 10 metres by 4 metres, suffered severe fire damage to the roof, first floor and 70% of the ground floor. Six pump crews worked throughout the night to control the fire with relief crews damping down and turning over the debris the next day. | ||
5 |
European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act 1998 | ||
5.1 |
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 is 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 | |||
File ref: Secretarial/WP/word/Corporate/HFRA: HFRA 29 5 03 Incidents of Interest JMW/14/5/03 | |||