Date: 4th March 2008
Time: 1555
Type: Make Pumps 4 – derelict house
Address: Fountain Lane, North Cove, Beccles
Initial Attendance: Normanhurst 01 and Beccles 01
Final Attendance: Normanshurt 01, 02, Beccles 01 and Clifton 01 plus Forward Control Vehicle
The normal dash from my office and there seems to be plenty of us all arriving at the station at the same time. I'm driving and we've five onboard with Gary Smart in charge.
North Cove is about six miles away through busy Oulton Broad and the thickening traffic. As usual there are people who are switched on and use their mirrors and their ears! They then take the necessary action to move out of our way as we try to make headway through the traffic. But again, as usual, there are plenty who, it seems, never look in their mirrors nor indeed seem to focus on anything other than the car stereo. And it always seems to be the car directly in front of us. They see a car pull over just ahead of them (these are the drivers that have seen and heard us bearing down on them) and then simply go to overtake without so much as the briefest of glances any of their mirrors. They then seem utterly surprised when they do cotton on and see the word FIRE writ large in the mirror with blue flashing lights each side of it. We've even gone to the trouble of putting the word FIRE back to front so as to appear the right way round when viewed in a mirror!
Deep breath in and then out slowly… That's better – even the blood pressure might come down soon!
Anyway, we turn off into North Cove and can see the plume of smoke just ahead. Left into a cul-de-sac and we find the other three pumps already in action. We give our tank of water to Clifton and then go on the lookout for a hydrant in the village. In the end we have two hydrants on the go and continue to ferry water with Clifton coming along too.
The derelict house was even more so now and will need more than a visit from Changing Rooms to put it right.
One couple, living close by, had their kettle working overtime. Every few minutes they would appear with another tray laden with cups of tea. A most welcome sight on a cold, snowy day. Thank you!
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