Alerter blog

Month: June 2007

  • What a waste of life – continued

    Heard on the news yesterday that Ben Morphey, the driver responsible for deaths of five people at Blythburgh a year ago, has received an eight and a half year sentence.

    As the BBC reports, the families are devastated by the sentence. The judge has told Mr.Morphey that he will only serve half the sentence in jail and the rest on licence.

    This doesn’t exactly hit home the message that drinking and driving don’t mix. There are die-hard drink drivers out there, so even a life sentence wouldn’t stop some people.

    Perhaps if these people could feel the hurt, the pain and the emptiness that these families are feeling, maybe that would change their ways…

    Perhaps if these people could witness what we witness when we attend these incidents, then maybe that would change their ways…

    But perhaps not… Because after 8 pints of lager you probably think you are the best driver in the world.

  • It’s too quiet…

    [Paragraph deleted…]

    Last drill night we had a drive down to the old Adnams distribution centre in Southwold for a BA Exercise. There were two crews from Normanshurst plus the Clifton Road pump.

    Myself and Richard Belsey were the first team to be committed. We traversed a large warehouse space until we made it to the door into the office area. Here we had the 'knickers' stuck over our face masks to completely obliterate our visibility. Once through the door we had to follow the right-hand wall, locate the stairs, climb these and then continue with search and rescue off the right-hand wall.

    By the time we got to the top of the stair we had advanced a long way and getting adequate hosereel for the rest of the search was a bit of a problem. After advancing with the classic BA Shuffle down a corridor and into an office and then another office, I located the casualty. We had to find the big bugger! On the way out Richard took the lead after handing over the branch (hosereel) to our second team. We then retraced our steps, correct stair procedure and back out through the warehouse.

    By the time I came off air I was breathing very deeply! Note to self: must start exercise programme soon.

    Luckily we had a while to recover while the other teams were in. Then a fire ground service on the BA sets – just in case we had a fire priority on the way back and also make up 120m of hosereel…

    Debrief over and it was a quickish drive back to Lowestoft to service our BA sets and not be too late getting away!

  • Slow down…

    Incident No. 2210
    Date:     22nd June 2007
    Time: 1915
    Type: RTC
    Address: Stirrups Lane – A12, Lowestoft
    Initial Attendance: PRT (Pump Rescue Tender) and two pumps
    Final Attendance:

    I knew we were going to an RTC as the wholetime crew were pulling out of the pump bay in the PRT as I jogged across to the station.

    Sure enough all three lights were up to indicate that all our pumps were being mobilised.

    The were some Cubs visiting the station (from Mel Buck’s group – 2nd Oulton Broad). They couldn’t have timed their visit any better – not only had they seen fire engines close up, squirted some water and sounded the two-tones. And to top it all the whole place was alive with firefighters getting the PRT out and all the Retained descending on the station from every direction.

    Mel was on station and was already aboard Ladder 1 and as I was next I took the drivers position. We tipped out with a crew of four because Friday night can often see us short crewed. Luckily, as we made our way out of town, we heard Dennis on Ladder 2 book mobile with a crew of six.

    As we neared the incident on the southbound carriageway of the A12 just north of Lowestoft we were contacted by the PRT crew. They were dealing with persons trapped in two separate vehicles and we would need to use the combi-tool (cutting gear) off Ladder 1 on the second car.

    We pulled up in the outside lane of the northbound carriageway in the fend-off position (at an angle across the road to give the crew a safe side to dismount and to form some sort of protection as the crews work. Using what cones we have on board we started to cone off behind our pump which was a good way behind the PRT to form the safe area. However our equipment was needed and I pulled up level with the second car (which was on the other side of the crash barrier). Ladder 2 arrived and its crew split up to work on both cars.

    For the first 15 minutes or so my job was to make us as obvious as possible to the traffic that was still flowing. I raised the stem light and pointed it towards the oncoming traffic. I then positioned myself inside the coned area but some way behind the pump and tried to slow down the steady stream of traffic heading towards Great Yarmouth. Some drivers slow down as good as gold. Others still come through at 40+ and rubber necking!

    The Police were able to close the road about 400 yards before our location freeing me up to get back to the vehicle that my crew were working on. As I approached the roof was coming off and efforts were being made to remove the driver side door.

    Soon after this the female driver was removed on a spine board over the rear of the vehicle and away to one of the two waiting ambulances.

    That was about it for us. Frenzied activity for 30 minutes or so as all the casualties were extricated and then it was packing up all the gear and a leisurely drive back to the station.

    Standard tests on the cutting gear and a general clean up ended the evening before getting back home just before 2100.

  • Up with the lark

    Incident No.
    Date:     10th June 2007
    Time: 0422
    Type: Fire
    Address: Stanford Street, Lowestoft
    Initial Attendance: One Pump
    Final Attendance:

    Sod’s Law states that the one night of the week when I haven’t got all my clothes and shoes carefully arranged, we get a shout in the early hours of Sunday morning.

    Normally, when the alerter goes off (I swear it could raise the dead!) I can be out of bed, in the hall, into my jeans, T-shirt on, shoes on, socks in hand and out of the door in about a minute – almost without waking up.

    But last night was different. We’d been out to a 40th birthday party and so were later to bed than normal. I didn’t bother positioning my clothes as usual, instead relying on the hope that tonight would be shout-free. I should have known better. By the time I had rummaged for clothes, found my shoes and got out of the door it felt like an eternity had passed.

    The wholetimers were out in the south of town accompanied by the Clifton Road pump (this is a one pump retained station in Kirkley, Lowestoft). The were three separate incidents within a few hundred yards of each other – someone stuffing lighted material or paper through letterboxes. What a nice wakeup call for those residents!

    We were initially mobilised to that area but were redirected to a fire at the rear of a property in Stanford Street. I was driving and we got to the area pretty quickly but could see no sign of fire. The crew split up to search the area. A small fire was discovered in a back alley and was quickly extinguished with a few blasts from the hosereel. We had the police attend because of the suspicious nature of the incident – it’s not often that rubbish self ignites at any time let alone at twenty past four on a misty Sunday morning!

    Back on station to the normal banter that surrounds life on a fire station. Even at that time of the morning wisecracks abound and no one is safe from some sort of jibe or indeed the fire service early morning chorus… that odour-laden symphony that is firefighters breaking wind!! Ah what a fine, dishevelled bunch we are…

  • Industrial Microwave – Birds Eye, Lowestoft

    Incident No.
    Date:     9th June 2007
    Time: 1242
    Type: AFA
    Address: Birds Eye, Whapload Road, Lowestoft
    Initial Attendance: One Pump
    Final Attendance: Make Pumps 2

    Just about to sink my teeth into a fishfinger sandwich and my alerter starts its merry little tune…

    This time it’s a Make Pumps 2 to the Birds Eye factory in Lowestoft.

    Small fire in one of their industrial size microwaves. Burnt, half-cooked and raw chicken does not give you much of an appetite for your cold fishfinger sandwich!

  • Bus – Ferndale Avenue

    Incident No.
    Date:     1st June 2007
    Type: Fire
    Address: Ferndale Avenue, Lowestoft
    Initial Attendance: Two Pumps
    Final Attendance: Make Pumps 5 plus Forward Control Vehicle

    Just dozing through the England – Brazil match when my alerter shatters the peace at around 2145hrs.

    Shoes on and out the door to trot the 100 yards to the fire station. The wholetime crew are already out, so was expecting this to be a make-up (a make-up is where the Officer in Charge at an incident needs more resources and 'makes-up' for more appliances).

    I had a quick shufty at the tip sheet and saw that it only had one pump listed (NT02 – that's the call sign of the appliance that the retained crew will most often take out). The message just said Bus and the address of Ferndale Avenue – about a quarter of a mile from the station.

    Got my tally up in the drivers position and started to get my gear on. Others now arriving and we mobilise with a crew of 5 (Sub/O Newton in charge).

    As we headed along Fir Lane towards the incident, we could see an ominous orange glow above the farm buildings behind a disused Esso filling station. There were plenty of members of the public already in the area and we were directed up a track to the rear of the farm buildings. As we rounded the corner we were met by the site of a 52 seater double deck coach ablaze from one end to the other!

    Now, as a fairly recently qualified turnout driver, this was my first sizeable incident where we were first pump at the job.

    It's right about now that you hope your training will kick in and everything will run smoothly.

    So, I engaged the pump using the mode switch. This puts in the PTO (Power Take Off). Jump out and round to the pump bay. Already someone has grabbed the flaked length of 45 (this is two lengths of 45mm diameter hose with branch attached that we keep stowed in the pump bay for rapid deployment). I connected this to the first delivery, opened the valve, brought the revs up and got the first water on to the burning coach. Almost immediately a second line of 45 was being run out together with one of the high pressure hosereels. With no immediate access to more water it is my job to ensure that we don't drain the tank. We've only got 400 gallons and that can go in the blink of an eye when using main jets (45 or 70).

    Luckily the wholetime crew (Green Watch) had been proceeded on to this incident from a previous job they had been at in the south of the town. They pulled up close to us and I was able to take water from them as well as a delivery being taken from their pump too.

    The hydrant was about six lengths of hose away and was already in the process of being connected. Even with this supplying us we still had to be frugal with the amount of water we put through to the branch men.

    The fire was now spreading to the old farm buildings and there was a van parked close behind the coach which, I was informed, had containers of petrol on board.

    In rapid succession assistance messages were sent to Control in Ipswich till the last one which was for Make Pumps 5.  With four pumps and over we get the Forward Control Vehicle from Beccles which acts as a command post at the incident and relays all radio messages. With its arrival it is one less job for a harrassed pump operator like me to worry about!

    Things soon came under control with the extra resources available tackling the blaze from three sides.

    By the time we had finished at the incident, got back on station, serviced BA sets, washed all the hose, etc it was nearly 0030hrs before I got back home.

  • What a waste of life

    Eleven months after it happened the BBC have reported that Ben Morphey, 22, from High Street, Yoxford, Suffolk, has admitted five charges of causing death by careless driving while unfit due to drink.

    I attended this awful incident in the early hours of 1st July 2006, on the A12 just south of Blythburgh. Everyone from the emergency services – the four fire crews from Normanshurt (Lowestoft), Southwold, Wrentham and Halesworth, the paramedics and the police all worked well together and tirelessly. But sometimes you are helpless, the situation is beyond you. Our job is to save life and when you can’t do that it hits you hard.

    This isn’t the place for me to really say what I think about drink driving – except to say "why?"

    Why, with all the publicity that drink driving gets, don’t some people understand the possible consequences of them getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol?

    Mr Morphey has been told to expect a custodial sentence. I wonder what term he will serve. Five people died on that night or shortly afterwards. Their families are now serving their own life sentences…

  • How it all started…

    I live really close to our local fire station – not even 100m away! And until a few years ago I didn't realise they had retained firefighters stationed there.

    To be honest I don't know how I found out that the station had a retained section. But when I did find out, it planted a little seed in my mind that this could be for me. I can't say I've always wanted to be a firefighter since being a wee lad but the thought now seemed like a good one. With some trepidation I mentioned my idea to my wife. I expected a response like "You don't wanna do that!" – or similar. Nothing of the sort. The current good lady was 100% behind me… Now, how do I join?

    Well, after a couple of phone calls to Headquarters I finally received an application pack. I turned this round in double quick time and waited patiently for the call. It didn't come. Months went by and still nothing. Eventually adverts appeared around town seeking new recruits as retained firefighters. A call to Headquarters revealed that my application of well over 12 months hence had been misplaced!

    Another application went in and I was called for interview. Passed this OK – tests to see if we could work out times (for Breathing Apparatus wears), basic intelligence tests (must have been for me to get through) and a general chat.

    Next was my medical at Ipswich Hospital – everything bar the "cough sir". Any firefighters reading this will be familiar with the Chester step test. Stepping onto and off a 12 inch high box in time to a ticking tape. At set intervals the ticking gets quicker and you have to keep pace. Every so often the doctor asks you to rate the exertion based on a given scale. My test was going OK, me bobbing up and down, looking out over the rooftops of Ipswich until the doctor tried opening his ringbinder of notes. His overzealous pull on the rings sent his notes fluttering around the room. Any thoughts of asking after my wellbeing were, quite literally, out of the window. Thankfully a pass there too.

    Another day and another trip to Ipswich, this times to Headquarters station. Now the aptitude / physical tests.

    There was a group of about eight of us and we all had to pass a number of tests. First up was the hose running. We had to run out then roll a length of 70mm hose (it's actually 25 metres long, 70mm is the diameter!) six times in some breathtakingly short time. Once we had recovered sufficiently it was on to the BA test.

    Each of us donned a BA set and had to squirm our way through a maze of rooms followed by a small tunnel, popping out the end like a champagne cork from the bottle. I can't remember now whether this was done in complete darkness or whether we were wearing the 'knickers' over our face masks!

    Now the final task – climbing to the top of the 13.5m ladder, pitched against the drill tower, taking a leg lock, removing both hands, leaning back, looking over our shoulder and calling out the number held by the instructor some 40+ feet below. This was probably the hardest test for me. I'm not a fan of heights but needs must and when you've been ordered to do something you seem to be able to get over your normal qualms!

    So there I was, a 39 year old spring chicken, about to start my training as a retained firefighter.

    After seven days basic training I was 'fit to ride', was issued with my alerter (the pager that alerts us to fire calls) and waited with baited breath for the thing to go off!

    That was nearly five years ago – since then I've had BA courses, passed my LGV test and have become a turnout driver. So even though I didn't dream it as a boy, I suppose I'm living it now – getting to drive a big red fire engine…

  • In the beginning…

    Well, it's been a long time coming but at long last I've got round to starting this blog…

    The final, gentle push came by picking up a copy of Random Acts Of Reality in my local branch of Waterstones. This is the printed version of a blog made by an EMT with London Ambulance Service.

    Time then for me, a retained firefighter with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, to record my thoughts, experiences (good, bad and humourous) for all to read.

    I'm hoping to detail shouts that we have, the characters we meet (from the fire service and public alike) [wording deleted…]

    Perhaps it's best to mention:
    All opinions on this website are mine alone, and may not reflect those of the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service or other firefighters.