Meeting to be held on 26 June 2023
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Jon Charters, Director of Service Delivery
Tel: 01772 866801
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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.
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Information
This report provides Members with information relating to operational incidents of interest over the period 1 April 2023 – 31 May 2023.
The following summarises the incidents with further detail provided within the body of the report:
- 10 fire engines attend a car sales showroom in Preston (7/4/23)
- 6 fire engines attend an outbuilding fire in Bleasdale (10/4/23)
- 8 fire engines attend a commercial building fire in Preston (11/4/23)
- 4 fire engines attend gas cylinders on fire in Warton (20/4/23)
- 12 fire engines attend a derelict hotel fire in Blackpool (24/4/23)
- 6 fire engines attend a derelict building fire in Preston City Centre (1/5/23)
- 8 fire engines attend a commercial building fire in Lathom (3/5/23)
- 10 fire engines attend a fire in a retail store in Blackburn (6/5/23)
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LFRS station area: |
C52 Fulwood |
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Date: |
7th April 2023 |
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Time: |
01:04 |
Ten fire engines from Fulwood, Preston, Penwortham, Bamber Bridge, Longridge, Darwen, Blackburn, Hyndburn, and Chorley, together with two aerial ladder platforms from Preston and Hyndburn, attended a commercial building fire on Bluebell Way, Preston. The incident involved a car showroom, approximately 100m x 100m in size. Further assistance was obtained from a water tower, bowser, command unit, high volume pump and drone.
The fire involved rooms within the building, which had spread to the roof and approximately 160 solar panels. Damage was also caused to new and used vehicles within the showroom.
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus tackled the fire internally, whilst the fire on the roof was extinguished via the aerial ladder platforms.
Crews were on scene for over 30 hours, damping down and conducting a fire investigation. The cause of the fire was recorded as accidental.
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E59 Longridge |
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Date: |
10th April 2023 |
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Time: |
05:45 |
Six fire engines from Fulwood, Preston, Garstang, Penwortham and Lancaster attended a building fire on Bleasdale Lane, Bleasdale. The incident involved an outbuilding approximately 40m x 50m in size. Firefighters used four breathing apparatus, one hose reel, one triple extension ladder, two light portable pumps and three firefighting water jets to extinguish the fire. The fire involved a bio-mass boiler and the associated fuel, in several bays within the building.
Due to the lack of water supplies in the area, the bowser was used to shuttle water to the scene. Fire crews were in attendance for approximately 8 hours. The incident was recorded as accidental.
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LFRS station area: |
C52 Fulwood |
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Date: |
11th April 2023 |
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Time: |
16:57 |
Eight fire engines, the aerial ladder platform, command unit and drone attended a fire involving a large amount of cardboard in a recycling waste plant on Wallend Road, Preston. Firefighters used six breathing apparatus, two firefighting water jets and one hose reel to extinguish the fire, which involved 17 tonnes of cardboard within the storage building.
The fire took approximately 7 hours to extinguish, with the cause believed to be accidental from an unknown source within the cardboard pile.
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LFRS station area: |
W35 Lytham |
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Date: |
20th April 2023 |
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Time: |
16:37 |
Four fire engines from St Anne’s, Blackpool and Bispham, supported by the hazardous material unit from South Shore, Command Unit from Fulwood, drone team, hose laying lorry and the water bowser, attended a commercial fire on Hillcock Lane in Warton.
The fire involved a quantity of natural gas cylinders, which formed part of a larger bank of 60 cylinders. Firefighters used 2 ground monitors to cool the surrounding building and isolated the gas supply internally. A water relay was established from an open water supply in the vicinity, so that there was enough water available to prevent the flame jets from the gas cylinders spreading to the building. The remaining gas was allowed to burn out, whilst firefighters continued the application of cooling water and monitored the temperature of the building and cylinders.
Crews were in attendance over 6 hours, with the cause being determined as accidental, from an ignited gas leak. Two buildings were damaged by heat, but fire teams were successful in preventing fire spread to the commercial buildings.
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LFRS station area: |
W31 Bispham |
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Date: |
24th April 2023 |
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Time: |
14:46 |
Twelve
fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms, one stinger and the
drone team attended a large fire at the former Hackett’s York
House Hotel. This was a four-storey derelict building on
Queens Promenade, Blackpool. Firefighters wearing breathing
apparatus, using four firefighting water jets, tackled the fire
externally, with the aerial ladder platform and water tower, making
access to the roof from above.
The incident led to the closure of the tram line and traffic in both directions on Queens Promenade, whilst firefighting was taking place.
Fire crews were on scene for over 3 days, damping down and conducting the fire investigation. The cause was recorded as deliberate, due to information being received that youths had been entering and exiting the building, just before the fire was discovered. Due to the uncertainty as to whether anybody was still inside, the LFRS victim recovery dog attended and searched the debris. From the information received by the police and the dog search, it was determined that there was nobody left in the building when the fire took hold.
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C50 Preston |
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Date: |
1st May 2023 |
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Time: |
17:53 |
Six fire engines from Penwortham, Preston, Fulwood, Bamber Bridge, and Leyland, along with two aerial ladder platforms from Preston and Blackpool were called to the former St Joseph’s Orphanage on Mount Street, Preston. Firefighters used two firefighting water jets to bring the incident under control. As the building is under demolition, all firefighting was conducted externally, to maximise firefighter safety.
Crews were on scene for over 24 hours. Although there have been several deliberate fires at this address, the cause on this occasion was recorded as accidental from workers operating within the roof space.
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LFRS station area: |
S51 Ormskirk |
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Date: |
3rd May 2023 |
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Time: |
08:07 |
Eight fire engines from Skelmersdale, Ormskirk, Chorley and Bamber Bridge, along with the aerial ladder platform from Preston, drone team, water tower and bowser from Leyland attended a commercial building fire on Carr Lane, Lathom.
The incident involved a multi-occupied building, consisting of 3 commercial workshops, 50m x 40m in size. The workshop contained farm machinery and gas cylinders, including acetylene. Firefighting water jets were secured in place, so that the cylinders could be cooled and the fire extinguished from relative safety.
The entire unit was destroyed by fire, with crews being on scene damping down for over 14 hours. A joint fire investigation was undertaken with insurers, with a definitive cause yet to be established.
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LFRS station area: |
E71 Blackburn |
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Date: |
6th May 2023 |
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Time: |
20:17 |
Ten fire engines, two aerial ladder platforms, water tower, command unit, bowser, drone team, hazardous materials unit and the high-volume pump attended a commercial building fire on Lower Audley Street, Blackburn. The fire started in the warehouse area of B & M Bargains on the retail estate. The building is a single storey row of retail stores, covering 80m x 40m. The fire quickly spread to the roof of the store, with the main priority being to prevent fire spread into the adjoining premises.
Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus, carrying firefighting water jets tackled the fire internally. The aerial ladder platforms were used to make fire breaks in the roof and apply water from above.
Fire crews were on scene for 2 days, damping down and assisting with the fire investigation. The cause of the fire has been recorded as accidental.
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