Agenda item

This report provided Members with information relating to the diversity of operational incidents of note since the last report to the Authority and covered the period from 1 December 2021 – 31 January 2022.

The Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer advised that currently on site was a Haggland vehicle which was an all-terrain vehicle used when responding to emergencies in remote / inaccessible locations.  The capability of these types of vehicle enabled the Service to provide year-round emergency cover in response to natural disasters across the County, especially flooding, which was becoming more severe and intense.  This was the first deliverable under the Climate Change and Operational Response Plan 2022-27.  Members were invited to view the vehicle after the meeting.

The Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer drew Members’ attention to the following incidents:

6/12/21 - Blackpool

North West Fire Control were alerted to a flat fire where it was believed people were trapped inside.  Fire engines from Blackpool and South Shore attended.  The fire was located close to the entrance of the 1^st floor flat.  6 Firefighters in breathing apparatus and 2 firefighting water jets, entered the building to carry out a rescue and to extinguish the fire.  Firefighters rescued 2 males from the flat who were handed over to the ambulance service for life saving treatment.  Unfortunately, both casualties were declared deceased at the scene.  The investigation is ongoing with a cause yet to be established.

26 December 2021 - Lancaster

Two fire engines from Morecambe attended to a report of a carbon monoxide leak at a premises on Marine Road in Morecambe.  The building was evacuated and 8 casualties were taken to the local hospital.  Fire crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the building to complete a full search and ventilate the building.  Once the search and rescue phase was complete, fire crews assisted the police and local council representatives with the investigation.  This included the use of the Aerial Ladder Platform from Morecambe.  The fire service was in attendance for six hours.

12/01/22 – Wyre

Fire engines from Fleetwood and Bispham attended Kemp Street in Fleetwood, following reports of a house fire with persons trapped inside.  On arrival the fire involving a log burner was intense and was causing significant amounts of smoke.  The first fire engine quickly committed 2 firefighters in Breathing Apparatus to search for casualties and to fight the fire.  The remaining 2 firefighters outside heard banging from an upstairs window.  This led them to notice 2 casualties struggling to breath from a small top opening window who were barely visible due to the thick smoke enveloping them in the room.  The firefighters quickly pitched a ladder to the window and affected a successful rescue of both occupants.  One firefighter received a precautionary check for smoke inhalation.  The fire was believed to be accidental, with radiated heat from a log burner igniting nearby combustible products.

The Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer added that the decisions taken and swift actions of the first crew on scene were exemplary and directly saved the lives of the 2 persons involved.  He was pleased to report that the Chief Fire Officer would be recognising those efforts formally over the coming weeks.

RESOLVED: - That the Authority noted the report.