fire

Fire crews battle Exeter factory blaze

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sat, 11/04/2017 - 10:15am

Fire Control received two calls from on-site staff at a factory on Kestrel Way, Exeter, reporting that alarms had activated and there was a fire in the casting plant within the foundry section of the factory.

The blaze started at around 1.26am today (SATURDAY) at Arconic on Sowton Industrial Estate.

Below is the Fire Control report from the incident:

Due to the potential serious nature of this incident and knowledge of the type of building involved, Fire Control made the decision to redirect fire appliances from other lower priority incidents in the area to ensure...

Pensioner rescued from bungalow by fire crews

Three fire appliances from Dawlish, Middlemoor and Teignmouth were mobilised following a call from a distressed female occupant of a property at Sercombes Gardens, Starcross.

The pensioner told emergency call handlers that she had a fire in her house and they could hear that her alarms had activated.

Due to the caller only being able to pass a partial address at time of call, Fire Control and crews worked together to locate the property at just after 6pm today.

After locating the property and investigating with 2 breathing apparatus wearers, a small fire was located...

Remember, remember… Organised displays are the safest place to enjoy a firework display

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 11/01/2017 - 12:10pm

Remember, remember… organised displays are the safest place to enjoy a firework display

Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service have been working alongside the National Fire Chiefs Council and a North Devon family to highlight the potential dangers of having a firework display at home. The Fire Service encourage everyone to attend an organised firework display as they are safer and they have safe and well organised displays . Maisie’s story

On Bonfire night, November 5, 2016, four year old Maisie Roe was badly burned by an ordinary garden firework. Stephanie, her...

Firefighters call for cuts to agenda to be dropped on anniversary of Cathedral Yard fire

Authored by Sam Richards
Posted: Fri, 10/27/2017 - 10:11pm

On the anniversary of the blaze that ripped through the historic Cathedral Yard area of Exeter last October, firefighters in the region are calling for an end to dangerous fire service cuts. The fire caused massive damage before being extinguished, and placed huge demands on the resources of the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service who sent 150 firefighters to put the fire out.

Last Friday (20 Oct) Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority endorsed a draft Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), the purpose of which the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) believes is to pave the way...

Reflections on the Royal Clarence Hotel fire one year on

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Fri, 10/27/2017 - 8:28am

Reflecting on a year since the fire which tragically destroyed The Royal Clarence Hotel, John Badley, Regional General Manager and in charge of the hotel on the night, has been reflecting on his memories of the events of 28 October 2016.

John comments, “It’s hard to believe the fire was a year ago. In some ways, the memories for both myself, and the city, seem so recent, so it’s hard to believe it’s been a year already. Work until now has been mostly to make the site safe and make preparations for the rebuild to commence, so it’s exciting to start seeing the first details of the...

Brian to tackle ultra-distance cycle race across America

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 10/16/2017 - 6:37am

An on-call firefighter at Danes Castle will be taking part in the Trans-America Bike Race in June 2018 to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity and Wooden Spoon Devon.

The race involves cycling 4,300 miles across 10 US states in around a month.

Brian Murray retired as Chief Fire Officer from Highlands and Islands Fire Service in 2010 after a 30-year career, having served in numerous brigades and at the Fire Service College.

After moving to Exeter in 2013, Brian joined the on-call crew at Danes Castle. He said: “I could not resist the challenge as I had always...

Firefighters tackle blaze on train

Fire control received a call from a member of British Rail reporting an empty passenger carriage on fire at Exeter St Davids in the early hours of this morning.

Five pumps from in and around the Exeter area were mobilised plus several specialist supporting vehicles and several officers.

The fire was discovered at 4.59am today.

Firefighters discocered the fire in the engine compartment of a parked up train. Crews used two breathing apparatus, two compressed air foam jets and one thermal image camera to extinguish.

Now scaled down, two crews remain on scene...

Crews tackle double decker bus fire

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 09/03/2017 - 9:47am

Fire crews tackled a blaze in a double decker bus in Exeter last night.

The Fire Service Control Room received numerous calls report a large vehicle fire and two appliances from Exeter were mobilised to the incident.

Crews located a double decker bus well alight and immediately got to work using two breathing apparatus and two compressed air foam jets. All passengers were free and clear of the vehicle.

Steady progress was made with the fire, the vehicle was 70% destroyed by fire 2500l of water and 14l of foam was used to extinguish the fire.

The incident...

Local fire stations receive oxygen kits to save the whole family

Over the last few weeks eight local fire stations in and around Exeter have received a donation of specially designed animal oxygen kits from a local Insurance office.

With 46% of UK households owning pets and with over 42,000 house fire in the UK alone last year, there is no wonder over two Million UK people have lost pets in fires, not to mention how many animals could come to need them in wildlife sanctuaries and rehoming centers.

LV=’s Regional Community Committee in Exeter discovered Smokey Paws, who’s aim is to provide all fire engines across the UK with specially...

West Country firefighters support brave Grenfell colleagues

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 08/28/2017 - 12:48pm

Firefighters in the South West, along with the TUC, raised more than £1,000 at the 3 day Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival in July for the Grenfell Firefighters’ Support Fund.

A cheque was presented last week (Wednesday 23 August) by Fire Brigades Union (FBU) South West official Tam McFarlane to a group of heroic firefighters from Battersea fire station who responded to the Grenfell fire. McFarlane was joined by Nigel Costley, South West TUC regional secretary, and Joanne Kaye, South West TUC vice-chair.

Tam McFarlane said: “The support and solidarity shown by everyone at the...

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