Lancashire Combined Fire Authority
Meeting to be held on 19 December 2022
Operational Incidents Of Interest
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Jon Charters, Director of Service Delivery
Tel: 01772 866801
|
Executive Summary This report provides Members with information relating to operational incidents of interest since the last report to the Authority.
Recommendation The Authority is asked to note the report. |
Information
This report provides Members with information relating to operational incidents of interest over the period 1 September 2022 – 30 November 2022.
The following summarises the incidents with further detail provided within the body of the report:
- 10 fire engines attend a commercial building fire in Heysham (3/9/22);
- 6 fire engines attend a fire in a public house under renovation in Blackburn (10/9/22);
- 6 fire engines attend a commercial building fire in Higher Walton (21/9/22);
- 4 fire engines attend a derelict building fire in Fleetwood (3/10/22);
- 6 fire engines attend a school on fire in Preston (15/10/22);
- 8 fire engines attend a derelict church on fire in Preston (27/10/22);
- LFRS staff involvement in Exercise Goshawk in Blackpool (8/11/22);
- Fatal road traffic collision in Poulton le Fylde (13/11/22);
- Fatal road traffic collision in Leyland (19/11/22).
|
LFRS station area: |
N12 Morecambe |
|
Date: |
3/9/2022 |
|
Time: |
09:43 |
10 fire engines from Lancaster, Morecambe, Fulwood, Silverdale, Preston, Blackpool, Blackburn, Bamber Bridge, Fleetwood, Cumbria FRS, along with the Stinger, Command Unit and Drone Team, were mobilised to an incident on Gas Field Road in Heysham. On arrival, crews found approximately 700 wooden pallets alight, which had spread to adjacent wasteland, woodland, surrounding industrial buildings and containers. In total 2 buildings and 6 shipping containers were destroyed.
Firefighting hose lines and the Stinger were used to bring the fire under control and crews were in attendance for 24 hours.
The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental, due to a member of staff having a bonfire close to the pallets.
|
E71 Blackburn |
|
|
Date: |
10/9/2022 |
|
Time: |
03:17 |
Fire crews from Blackburn, Darwen and Hyndburn were called to a pub under renovation on Rosewood Avenue, Blackburn. The Aerial Ladder Platform from Preston and the Command Unit from Fulwood also attended.
The fire involved the roof void of the pub, with extensive smoke and water damage also being caused. Several firefighting jets and firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire.
Crews were in attendance for approximately 18 hours, damping down and assisting with the fire investigation. The cause of the fire has been recorded as deliberate ignition, with people climbing onto the roof to start the fire.
|
LFRS station area: |
S53 Bamber Bridge |
|
Date: |
21/9/2022 |
|
Time: |
09:40 |
Six fire engines from Preston, Penwortham, Bamber Bridge, Leyland, Chorley, Darwen and Blackburn, along with the Aerial Ladder Platform, Drone and Command Unit attended a commercial building fire in Higher Walton.
On arrival of the fire service the entire building was involved in fire. Several firefighting water jets were used along with the Aerial Ladder Platform to bring the fire under control. Inflatable booms were also deployed, in order to divert firefighting water run-off from entering the River Darwen. Several gas cylinders were within the building, which required cooling for several hours.
Firefighters were at the incident for over 12 hours, damping down and conducting an investigation into the cause. The fire was believed to have been accidental, caused by sparks coming from an industrial grinder.
|
LFRS station area: |
N32 Fleetwood |
|
Date: |
3/10/2022 |
|
Time: |
03:11 |
Four fire engines from Blackpool, Fleetwood and Bispham, along with the Aerial Ladder Platform from Blackpool attended a fire involving a derelict building on Poulton Road in Fleetwood. On arrival the area was heavily smoke logged and a fire was confirmed in the roof of the property.
Crews with firefighting water jets and the monitor from the Aerial Ladder Platform were used to bring the fire under control. The entire building was involved in fire, which had led to concerns over the integrity of the building structure. District Council building control attended the scene to assess the building.
Fire crews were in attendance for over 12 hours, whilst the fire was extinguished and a fire investigation completed. The property had previously been secured with fencing and the doors and windows boarded, but there were signs of forced entry via one of the wooden panels. Due to the building being insecure, the cause of the fire was recorded as deliberate ignition.
|
LFRS station area: |
C50 Preston |
|
Date: |
15/10/2022 |
|
Time: |
18:53 |
Six fire engines
and an Aerial Ladder Platform from Preston, Blackpool, Blackburn,
Longridge and Bamber Bridge attended a large fire involving
Highfield Primary School on Fulwood Row, Preston. Firefighters used
four firefighting water jets, two hose reels, the Aerial Ladder
Platform and breathing apparatus to bring the fire under
control.
Plastic play equipment was taken from the sheds by several people and ignited on a decked area near to the building. The heat from the fire had broken the patio window, allowing the fire to spread within the building. The entire building was destroyed due to the intensity of the fire.
Fire crews were on scene for approximately 20 hours, damping down and assisting police with the fire investigation. Four 14-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of arson and the investigation with the police is ongoing.
|
LFRS station area: |
C50 Preston |
|
Date: |
27/10/2022 |
|
Time: |
06:00 |
Eight fire engines from Preston, Fulwood, Penwortham, Bamber Bridge and Chorley, along with the command unit and Stinger from Blackburn, the water bowser from Leyland and Aerial Ladder Platforms from Blackpool and Preston attended a derelict church fire on Eldon Street, Preston.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire using five water jets, the Stinger and the Aerial Ladder Platform. The property was on Lancashire FRS’ risk database, as having the potential to house rough sleepers. This informed the attending officer’s decision to increase the number of pumps attending due to the potential life risk involved.
When crews arrived, the building was completely involved in fire. LFRS was on scene for several days assisting the police with the fire investigation. Due to the intelligence obtained from Preston Fire Station’s multi-agency approach to managing empty buildings, it was decided that a victim recovery dog should be used to search for casualties in the severely damaged building. As a result of the search, the LFRS dog handler sadly located one deceased casualty.
Due to the extent of damage to the building, the cause has not been established and police enquiries are ongoing.
|
LFRS station area: |
W30 Blackpool |
|
Date: |
8/11/22 |
|
Time: |
20:00 |
On 8 November, a multi-agency counter terrorism exercise took part on Blackpool Seafront. The scenario started as a Road Traffic Collision on the comedy carpet and escalated into an armed assault of Blackpool Tower. The purpose was to test the multi-agency response of partners to a marauding terrorist attack.
As part of the exercise a firefighter was shot by a terrorist and subsequently died of their injuries. This allowed LFRS to also conduct a business continuity exercise and to instigate the ‘Death and Serious Injury In-Service’ protocol. The exercise ran for several days at a number of locations, allowing LFRS staff to collaborate with partners at a tactical and strategic level.
|
LFRS station area: |
W34 Wesham |
|
Date: |
13/11/22 |
|
Time: |
20:21 |
Three fire engines from Blackpool and Bispham attended reports of a road traffic collision in Singleton. On arrival, crews were met with 2 vehicles which had been involved in a head-on collision. Multiple casualties were within each vehicle, most of whom had been able to self-release prior to arrival of LFRS. However, one person remained trapped within each vehicle.
Hydraulic cutting equipment was used to release the casualties, but unfortunately one female was declared deceased at the scene. Other casualties were removed to hospital with varying levels of injuries.
Fire crews remained on scene for approximately 6 hours, during which time police completed their investigation and the fatal casualty was extricated.
|
LFRS station area: |
S53 Bamber Bridge |
|
Date: |
19/11/22 |
|
Time: |
17:48 |
Five fire engines from Preston, Bamber Bridge, Chorley and Penwortham, along with the Water Bowser from Leyland attended a Road Traffic Collision on the M6 South Bound between Junction 29 and 28.
The incident involved 2 vehicles, one of which was on fire when crews arrived and which resulted in one adult being declared deceased at the scene. A young child from the second vehicle was given CPR by fire crews, but unfortunately later died as a result of their injuries. Two further casualties with serious injuries were treated by fire crews whilst awaiting additional Ambulances. The M6 was closed in both directions during the incident. Fire crews remained on scene assisting police for approximately 9 hours and completing the extrication of those involved.
Business Risk
None
Environmental Impact
Potential impact on local environment in relation to operational incidents. Significant incidents benefit from the attendance of specialist water tower resources (Stingers) which make a positive impact on firefighting operations and reduce the environmental impact.
Equality and Diversity Implications
None
HR Implications
None
Financial Implications
None
Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985
List of background papers
Paper:
Date:
Contact:
Reason for inclusion in Part 2 if appropriate: N/A