Month: October 2008

Date: 20th October 2008
Time: 1951
Type: Smoke issuing
Address: Britten Centre, Lowestoft
Initial Attendance: Normanshurst 01 and 02

I didn't really look at the tip sheet – only to see we were heading for The Britten Centre in Lowestoft and reports of smoke being seen.

We all thought it would be a Smoke Cloak that had activated in one of the shops of the Britten Centre. Smoke Cloaks are an automated way of filling a shop with smoke to make it virtually impossible for a burglar to find their way into (or out) of the shop once the burglar alarm has been activated.

Cheesey was driving and he headed for the pedestrian entrance to the shops between the Library and the Elderley People's Club. Just as we pulled up Steve Mullen (OIC of White Watch tonight) called us up on the handheld radio to suggest we approached from this direction. Cheesey took Ladder 2 down the footway between the buildings, stopping outside QD.

Wisps of smoke could be seen coming from one of the permanent (and well secured) market stalls. As Ladder 2 was closer (White Watch had come into the Britten Centre via the Bus Station) we used the Combi tool (cutters and spreaders) to force entry to the stall through one of its metal roller shutters.

As an orange glow became more obvious under the shutters, I ran out two lengths of 45 and charged it. It's usual practice to run out a covering jet like this in case things go tits up and the hosereel just isn't enough…

Mel and Greg set about the shutters – cutting and spreading until a nice 12 inch high aperture had been made. Right on cue, a keyholder for the stall arrived, opened another shutter, allowing the hosereel to douse the small fire that was situated under the counter.

And with everything out and all the gear stowed it was time for everyone to practice their Pete Beale (remember him Eastenders fans) impressions…

"Pound o' carrots, get ya luvverly carrots here sweetheart"

"Melons, luvverly ripe melons"

Thankfully, before long, we were off back to Normanshurst and all the would-be barrow boys called it a night…

Date: 8th October 2008
Time: 1630
Type: RTC, HGV on side, person trapped
Address: Horn Hill, Lowestoft
Initial Attendance: Normanshurst 05, 01 and 02

I was actually at home when the alerter went off – had come home early to do a few bits of painting (DIY not watercolours).

Was jogging up the road when I could hear my name being called. The voice was faint, almost inaudible, but with a definite out-of-breathiness to it. I looked round and could see Dennis pedalling hard for the station. "Put my tally up, put my tally up", came wafting up the road. I waved my acknowledgement as I dodged the traffic on Normanston Drive.

The tip sheet said it was an HGV on its side, person trapped, located at the Asda roundabout at Horn Hill on Lowestoft.

As we went over the bascule bridge traffic was backing up in the two lanes approaching Asda. I had to take it pretty slowly in the oncoming lane hoping that approaching traffic would see us coming. Wrong way round the first roundabout to then be greeted with the sight of an articulated lorry on its left hand side on the Lings roundabout.

The lorry was carrying a forty foot container holding rolls of paper from SCA Recycling on Victoria Road. Witnesses said the driver wasn't driver quickly as he negotiated the roundabout. His load must have shifted as he turned right causes the whole thing to roll to the left. That's 22 tons of paper plus the lorry, making a total of around 39 tons. Luckily no one was standing on the pavement where the truck ended up.

Nothing we can do as heavy lifting is required. We went back to Normanshurst on standby while Green Watch were at the scene waiting for the crane to do its bit.

And to think, on Tuesday night we had a lecture from George Moran all about HGV RTC's. We'd all been muttering that we never have anything like that around here!