Archived decisions
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority |
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17 September 2003 |
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Incidents of Interest - May to September 2003 |
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Report of the Chief Fire Officer |
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Contact: |
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Alan House Tel: 023 8064 4000 Ext 205 |
14th May |
A range of farm buildings at Grove Farm, Cold Harbour Lane were involved in fire in the early hours of the morning and a make-up request was sent for 5 pumping appliances and 2 water carriers. The fire severely damaged the 60 by 5 metre building and was brought under control using 5 jets. Unfortunately an acetylene cylinder was involved and required cooling for a 24-hour period. It was possible on this occasion, with the help of a responsible landowner, to rig up a temporary hoseline to provide cooling. Crews revisited during the 24-hours to ensure the cylinder cooled down in a controlled environment. |
23rd May |
A range of four thatched cottages at Old London Road, Popham were destroyed by fire. The roofs were well alight when the first appliances arrived and pumps were made up to 8, then subsequently to 12 and 16. Four water carriers were also mobilised to provide additional water for firefighting and numerous special appliances also attended. At one stage 8 jets and 4 hosereels were in use with in excess of 80 breathing apparatus. Crews assisted the occupiers removing their belongings from the building. Firefighting continued at the scene for more than eighteen hours. |
29th May |
A fire at Harwood Court, Marryat Road, New Milton required the attendance of 5 pumps and a number of residents had to be rescued from the building. Three were taken down ladders before arrival of the Service and a further 5 were rescued either by ladder or led to safety by HFRS personnel. |
29th May |
A fire involving cars at Jordans Scrapyard in Dundas Spur at Portsmouth required the attendance of 10 pumping appliances and many specialist vehicles, including a Turntable Ladder to provide a water monitor. A stack of vehicles estimated as 60 by 80 metres and containing several hundred cars was well alight. Seven water and 2 foam jets were used to bring the fire under control after a protracted firefighting operation. |
10th June |
More than 20 emergency calls were received to a fire involving a commercial garage and offices at Winchester Road, Four Marks. Pumps were quickly made up to 10 with 2 water carriers. The garage workshop, 30 by 20 metres containing approximately 10 vehicles, was severely damaged by fire and building collapse with 4 water monitors, 2 jets and breathing apparatus in use. Unfortunately acetylene cylinders were involved in the fire necessitating a 24-hour cooling operation and the setting up of a 200 metre exclusion zone. Residents from Chawton End, close within the exclusion zone, had to be evacuated from their homes to a rest centre during cooling operations. |
22nd June |
A serious fire at Trio Mouldings, Botley Road in Curbridge was attended by 6 pumps and 2 water carriers. The building, 140 by 10 metres, was totally involved in fire together with 2 cars, a lorry and a van. This building also contained a number of cylinders including acetylene which necessitated setting up a 200 metre exclusion zone and a protracted cooling operation. A water shuttle operation was put in place to supply sufficient water for the 3 jets used for firefighting. Overhead power cables were involved providing a further hazard to the crews. |
6th July |
Three people were taken to hospital following a fire at Laburnum Grove in Portsmouth. The fire was brought under control using a jet, 2 hosereels and 8 breathing apparatus with positive pressure ventilation being used to quickly clear the smoke and assist the firefighting. One male person was detained in hospital and unfortunately a dog perished in the fire. |
7th July |
Crews responded to a car fire outside a residential care home in Liphook Road at Lindford. On arrival they were confronted with two burning vehicles with fire spreading to adjacent property. One female had suffered burns and a further female fatality was located inside the vehicle. It proved to be a particularly traumatic incident for attending crews. |
11th July |
A further fire involving a building containing an acetylene cylinder occurred at Robanna Motors, Blackwater Way in Aldershot necessitating the attendance of 4 pumping appliances and a 24-hour cooling operation. Residents living nearby were evacuated to a rest centre while the fire was extinguished and the cylinder cooled. |
4th August |
A quickly developing fire at Court Farm, Old Road, West Meon involved standing crops and a combine harvester. The incident was brought under control using 5 pumps, 4 landrovers and a Multi-Role Vehicle. Unfortunately a Water Carrier mobilised for additional water supplies was negotiating a farm track which gave way and the vehicle rolled through 270 degrees and down a five foot embankment. Both crew members were taken to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital by Ambulance but fortunately only suffered muscular and soft tissue bruising and were not detained. |
The water carrier was severely damaged and is being returned to the manufacturer for a decision on whether to repair or replace it. | |
11th August |
Five pumps and 2 landrovers were required to deal with approximately 50 acres of cut straw at Chidden Farm, Hambledon. |
13th August |
Fire engulfed a building used for the storage and bagging of wood shavings and sawdust at Petersfield Road in Ropley. Pumps were quickly made up to 8 and a water carrier was requested. The fire involved 2 barn type buildings 40 by 20 metres and approximately 100 tons of sawdust and two 20-ton trailers. There was concern that a diesel tank might ignite but this was protected, although unfortunately 1000 litres did leak from the tank. The fire continued to burn under the control of a reduced number of crews for 6½ days. |
During this reporting period there have been numerous very serious and fatal road traffic accidents. Rather than reporting on each one individually I have identified one of the more serious to indicate the problems of such incidents. | |
On 3rd June a minibus was in collision with a lorry on the A36 road near West Wellow. A number of other vehicles were also involved. There was an immense amount of confusion at the scene but messages indicated that 14 elderly people from a local hospital were in the minibus at the time of the accident and some had extricated themselves with the aid of passers by, but four were still trapped in the minibus, with one trapped underneath the vehicle. The stop message indicated that 8 persons were rescued by HFRS. It was later ascertained that two people died as a result of their injuries. | |
16 August |
An area of one and half hectares of gorse and deep-seated peat were involved in fire on Browndown Ranges, Lee-on-Solent. 4 pumps, l landrover and watercarrier were needed to extinguish the fire. |
27 August |
One male deceased in a car fire, Portsmouth Road, Fishers Pond. 1 pump attended. |
27 August |
A Dutch barn containing 100 tonnes of hay and 60 tonnes of straw was severely damaged by fire a New Park Farm, A337 Brockenhurst. 6 pumps, 2 watercarriers, 1 multi-role vehicle and 1 landrover attended. |
28 August |
Five pumps, 1 watercarrier, 1 multi-role vehicle, 1 special equipment unit attended a fire involving scrap cars and military vehicles at Hursts Scrap Yard, Church Lane, St Marybourne. Firefighting operations were hampered by poor water supplies. |
30 August |
Following a gas explosion and subsequent fire, a mid-terrace property in Albermarle Avenue, Elson, Gosport, was severely damaged. Two adult occupants received burns, both of whom were transferred to the Odstock Burns unit. 3 pumps attended. |
2 September |
A five-year old male child was rescued by firefighters from a severe fire in a maisonette in Holly Close, Sarisbury Green. Sadly the child later died in hospital. Also his three-year old brother received burns in the fire and is being treated in Odstock Hospital Burns unit. 3 pumps attended. |
3 September |
Crews from Hardley and Hythe attended a road traffic accident in Long Lane, Hardley in which, sadley, a retained firefighter based at Hardley Fire Station received fatal injuries. The firefighter concerned was one of three brothers all serving at Hardley Fire Station. A relation was part of the crew from Hythe who attended the incident. |
4 September |
The roof of a semi-detached property in Exeter Road, Southsea, was severely damaged by fire. 4 pumps and a Special Equipment Unit attended. |
4 September |
A fire involving a barn, measuring 30m x 20m, and containing 200 tonnes of straw, 2 cars and 1 van at Manor Farm, Chalton Lane, Clanfield, threatened to spread to nearby thatched cottages and other farm buildings containing agrochemicals and acetylene cylinders. The use of boundary cooling kept the fire contained to the barn, which along with its contents, was severely damaged. 8 pumps, 2 watercarriers, 2 landrovers, 1 multi-role vehicle and a Special Equipment Unit attended. |
Note: |
At the time that this report is being prepared (8 September) the prolonged period of hot, dry weather has resulted in an increased number of heathland and farmland fires. These types of fires in such hot weather conditions, present additional physical problems to our firefighters, particularly the increased risk of heat related illness as a result of dehydration. |
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 | |
File ref: Secretarial/WP/word/Corporate/HFRA: HFRA 17 9 2003 Incidents PFCO/JMW/8/9/2003 | |