A Busy Weekend for Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Firefighters from Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service had a busy weekend in the lead up to Christmas dealing with two serious house fires and several other incidents that could have been more dangerous. In one case the occupants were out of the house at the time and a smoke alarm alerted neighbours to the fire.

At 18.23 on Friday 1 December Fire Control received a call about a fire in a house in Frederick Street, Luton. When firefighters from Luton and Stopsley Community Fire Stations arrived on the scene just minutes later they found the kitchen of a two storey terraced house on fire. Fire crews broke into the house and fought the blaze using fire hoses and jets, wearing breathing apparatus to protect themselves against smoke and fumes. The ground floor and first floor were heavily smoke logged and this was cleared using positive pressure ventilation.

Ade Yule, Borough Commander South said: “Fire crews extinguished a fire in the kitchen and searched the remainder of the house for a reported mum and children. Everyone was accounted for as all occupants were out of the house at the time of the fire and there were no casualties. Both floors of the house suffered severe smoke damage.

“The fire started accidentally and was caused by electric fault in the kitchen. Fortunately a smoke alarm alerted neighbours who called us. We had to break into the house but we stopped the fire from causing even more damage, especially as this was a terraced house.

“This just goes to show how important it is to have a working smoke alarm in your property. If you don’t have one please get one now. If you have one, test it regularly to make sure it’s working.”

Firefighters in the south of the county were called out again at 3.16am on Sunday morning (3 December) to a house fire in Brewers Hill Road, Dunstable. When crews from Dunstable Community Fire Station arrived just minutes later they found the bedroom of a semi-detached bungalow on fire. Once again firefighters had to break into the property and wore breathing apparatus to protect themselves from the fumes and smoke. They fought the fire using a hose reel, safety jet and a covering jet. After they put the fire out they cleared smoke from the building using positive pressure ventilation and implemented scene safety. 100% of the building was damaged by fire and smoke and one elderly woman was treated for smoke inhalation before being passed into the care of paramedics. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Also during the weekend there were several other fires around the county.
At 11.03 on Friday 1 December fire crews from Dunstable community fire Station attended a chimney fire at the Black Horse, Bedford Street, Woburn. The fire was contained in chimney and firefighters tackled the blaze using chimney rods and a back pack sprayer, using a thermal imaging camera to ensure they had located all sources of the fire. They then cleared smoke from the building using positive pressure ventilation. The fire was accidental and there were no casualties.

At 14.32 on Saturday 2 December a smoke alarm alerted fire control to a cooker fire in Dorset Court, Kingsland road, Luton. Firefighters from Luton, Stopsley and Dunstable Community Fire Stations attended the incident and instigated their high rise procedures, which had only been tested a few days before at [location]. Fortunately the fire was out on arrival and fire crews cleared smoke from the property using their positive pressure ventilation.
Later that evening, at 22.09, fire crews from Luton and Stopsley Community fire Stations again attended a cooking fire, this time at Butterworth Path, Luton. The fire was fortunately out on arrival but firefighters administered first aid to a casualty.

At 10.47 on Sunday 3 December firefighters were called to a fire in boiler at a house in Bunyans Walk, Harlington. Fire crews from Dunstable and Luton community fire Stations attended and isolated gas and electric supplies before ventilating the property. There were no casualties.

Finally at 17.06 on Sunday, 3 December firefighters from Leighton Buzzard Community Fire Station were called to a Fire involving logs and kindling in the garage of bungalow in Linslade Road, Heath and Reach. The fire was extinguished by occupier and fire crews ventilated the loft, garage and garage of attached property due to light smoke logging. Crews also turning over and damping down the site of the fire using a hose reel and thermal imaging cameras to ensure they had found all sources of the fire.

Ade Yule, Borough Commander South added: “I’d like to praise all the crews for their hard work and dedication over the weekend. In some cases these incidents could have been a lot worse if not for our quick attendance and swift action when we arrived on the scene.
“We want people to enjoy the festive period but I’d also like to remind people to take extra care during the holiday season and to check their smoke alarms regularly. If you are having guests over make sure they know how to evacuate your property quickly if there is a fire or other incident.”