Agenda item

The report provided Members with information relating to operational incidents of note over the period 1 April 2024 – 31 May 2024. As the operational period had been very busy, the report detailed only the larger deployments or more complex incidents. As a result, some incidents that Members had been made aware of locally, may not have formed part of the report. Full details of the following incidents were provided in the report:

·         Eight fire engines attended a commercial building fire in Blackburn (6/4/2024)

·         Fatal building fire in Thornton Cleveleys (19/4/2024)

·         Six fire engines tackled a commercial building fire in Poulton (23/4/2024)

·         Person struck by Train in Parbold (25/4/2024)

·         Firefighters responded to wildfire in Bacup (30/4/2024)

·         Firefighters responded to fatal RTC on the M58 (17/5/2024)

·         Firefighters responded to fatal RTC in Whitewell Bottom, Rossendale (19/5/2024)

·         Firefighters responded to reports of a person trapped in a cave in Leck (20/5/2024)

County Councillor David O’Toole highlighted that operational incidents was one of the most important items on the agenda and represented just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ of incidents attended and the difficulties faced by firefighters. The Chief Fire Officer (CFO) agreed and advised that during this reporting period over 4000 incidents have been reported with approximately 18,000 incidents per annum

Resolved: That the Authority noted and endorsed the report.

Group Manager Liam Wilson (GM) gave a presentation to members on the commercial building fire at Witton Business Park, Blackburn.

GM Wilson advised that the site entrance of the commercial property was opposite the entrance to Witton Park. The initial call was received at 19:26 hrs on 6 April 2024 with flames visible from the roof of the building. There was initial attendance of 4 pumps, supported by a Flexi Duty Officer (FDO) and a Tactical Advisor, which was then increased to 8 pumps, 2 Aerial Ladder Platforms (ALP’s), a High Volume Pump (HVP), a Drone,a Command Unit and a Welfare Unit. In total over 65 firefighters were involved in dealing with the incident.

There were a number of hazards and considerations which included a large thick smoke plume, rapid fire spread, gas cylinders present, signs of structural collapse, the presence of an electric substation and gas supply and signs of asbestos. There were access difficulties with a river running along one side of the building and a wall and fence along another side, additionally there was a loaded HGV blocking access.

The priorities were gathering intelligence from site representatives and police in relation to youths reported in the area immediately prior to incident, evacuating surrounding businesses and an Easter fayre taking place at Witton Park, establishing water supplies including a HVP at Witton Park, preventing fire spread by removing the loaded HGV, identifying hazards and removing 30 gas cylinders and requesting Electricity Northwest to attend, considering environmental impact, fire investigation and maintaining Firefighter safety.

There was a multiagency response from Lancashire Constabulary, North West Ambulance Service, Blackburn with Darwen Council emergency planning and building control, Environmental Agency, Cadent Gas, Electricity North West and United Utilities. Members were shown a video which showed the extent of the fire.

GM Wilson explained that this was a protracted incident with LFRS working alongside partners for 9 days to determine the involvement of persons, continue to monitor for hot spots to prevent reignition, complete the fire investigation, conduct a controlled demolition and maintain the safety cordon whilst minimising the impact upon the local businesses and communities. This included reducing road closures to one lane to reduce the impact on the local community. The incident was officially closed on 15 April 2024.

LFRS maintained consistent warning and informing media messages, a Facebook post that provided the initial details, incident updates and a link to the website received 5,153 engagements and had 30,650 impressions, the Twitter post had 9,801 impressions and 368 engagements and the LFRS website incident report received 5,103 views.

Councillor Desai asked how the service kept those in the vicinity informed. GM Wilson explained that the service had declared an Operation Merlin multi-agency incident which supported a multi-agency communication strategy. Additionally, the Service kept the community updated with images, communication online and door to door updates.

The Chair asked which locations the pumps came from that attended the incident. GM Wilson explained that the eight pumps were deployed   from Blackburn, Darwen, Accrington, Burnley, Bamber Bridge and Chorley. The ALPs were from Hyndburn and Preston, and the HVP came from Burnley.

The Chair asked how the fire had started. GM Wilson advised that investigations were still ongoing but it was possibly deliberate.

County Councillor Arif thanked all officers involved and stated that it was interesting to see all the work that goes into incidents. He suggested there be more emphasis on social media and investment in this area so the Service could reach a larger audience. GM Wilson advised that Group Managers work closely with the services Communications Team throughout incidents and they aspired to imbed improvements

The Chair thanked GM Wilson and the officers involved.