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On Saturday 28th April, between 11am and 3pm, Blackburn’s firefighters are inviting the public to take a look around their brand-new fire station, which will have had its official opening earlier in the week. The last time Blackburn firefighters invited guests to celebrate the completion of their ‘new’ fire station was in May 1922, but 90 years on history repeats itself. It’s a theme that will be repeated during the day, with an old fire engine on site alongside contemporary machines, a display of photographs from the early days and comparisons to be drawn … Continue reading
Arsonists in Lancashire have been given over 12 years in prison since last December. A report from the Lancashire Fire Authority heard at this week’s meeting revealed that the courts have handed out prison sentences totalling 12 years and ten months to seven individuals between December and April. They were involved in setting deliberate fires in a variety of places including a commercial laundry, domestic properties, an empty shop and University accommodation. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Lancashire Constabulary have been working closely together for a long time to reduce the number of incidents and … Continue reading
This week, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bay Search and Rescue who specialise in providing 24/7 emergency response to incidents in involving quicksand and mud flats. Based in Flookburgh, Cumbria, the team assist the Coastguard, Police, Ambulance Service and First Responders on and around the Morecambe Bay area and they have the capability and capacity to provide assistance and support at moorland fires. The Bay Search and Rescue’s vehicles include a Hagglund All Terrain Emergency Rescue Vehicle (ATERV) and a Hagglund ATERV cargo carrier with crane. These tracked vehicles … Continue reading
Commenting on the potential tanker drivers’ strike, Paul Richardson, Deputy Chief Fire Officer said: “It’s understandable that people may be worried about the impact of a potential shortage of petrol, but we would advise not to store large amounts of petrol at home. Petrol can be a dangerous substance that gives off flammable vapour, needing careful handling and proper storage. “If people feel it is necessary to store fuel at home, they should do this in sheds, garages or outbuildings – never inside the home. People can legally store up to 30 litres of … Continue reading
A man has died in a house fire on Barnwood Crescent in Earby. Firefighters from Earby, Colne, and Barnoldswick were called to the fire at 17:15 on Monday evening. When the first crew from Earby Fire Station arrived at the detached bungalow, the firefighters were told that it was believed that somebody was in the house at the time. Flames were issuing from the property and six firefighters entered into the property wearing breathing apparatus. Despite their best efforts, one elderly man died in the fire. The cause of the fire is unclear and an … Continue reading
Fire precautions built in to Blackburn’s as yet unoccupied new station on Byrom Street in the town received an early confirmation of their effectiveness yesterday when a minor fault in electrical wiring in a roof space triggered a fire alarm. Firefighters turned out to investigate the call from their ‘old’ station across the road, which they’ll be leaving for the last time next week. Speaking of the incident, Assistant Chief Fire Officer Chris Kenny said, “A fire in a fire station is a graphic reminder of how fire can strike anywhere and emphasises yet again … Continue reading
On Saturday, firefighters at Preston Fire Station hosted a successful car wash raising £1,084 for The Fire Fighters Charity. The firefighters were assisted by staff from Barclays Bank who washed cars and donated £542 after promising to match the funds raised throughout the day. Firmly established on the fire and rescue service calendar, the National Car Wash is The Fire Fighters Charity’s largest national fundraising event of the year. In Lancashire, there are further car washes taking place at Padiham, Lytham, Earby and Nelson fire stations on 24th March and Tarleton Fire Station is hosting … Continue reading
With 1500 staff based at 40 sites throughout Lancashire’s 1000 square miles and dealing with around 20,000 emergency incidents a year, ensuring the safety of staff in doing their job and managing the potential drain on environmental resources those incidents pose is vital work. Just as nothing is left to chance when dealing with emergencies, a tried and tested approach to health, safety and the management of environmental issues is a core function of the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 are international best practice standards for how organisations manage Health … Continue reading
With forgetfulness or falling asleep when a meal’s on the hob, under the grill or in the oven a major cause of house fires in the home, firefighters and the Red Cross combined forces on Pancake Tuesday to promote fire safety and also invite people to consider becoming a Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Service (FESS) volunteer. Every year, hundreds of families and individuals suffer damage to their homes following a fire, flood or similar incident. FESS volunteers, equipped with a specially adapted camper van, respond around-the-clock to provide help when things have … Continue reading
Just after 11pm on Monday evening, firefighters from Preston were called to a fire at the Old Spiritual Church on Moor Lane in Preston. When the first crews arrived at the scene, the derelict building was well alight and the crews quickly evacuated people from several houses in the close vicinity of the church. They then sprayed water on to the fire and surrounding buildings to stop the fire from spreading to the flats that were very close to church. In total, around 40 firefighters, seven fire engines were called to the incident and specialist equipment such … Continue reading
