I just hope nobody was around last night to witness my theatrical exit, enroute to the fire station!
Front door locked, I turned and built up a head of speed down our long concrete ramp. In an attempt to shave milliseconds off my journey time, I made to leap across the corner of the path and onto the driveway. Unfortunately, on takeoff, my foot slipped and I was flying through the air heading straight for the driveway and, if I didn't stop quick enough, a nasty looking rose bush! With arms outstretched, I demolished the brick edging to the path and ended up face down on my driveway…
A quick look around and I couldn't see anyone guffawing at my antics. With a few heartfelt "f**k its" I started a slow, loping run over to the fire station.
Cheesey was in ahead of me (he obviously had made a much safer exit from his house!) and took the drivers tally. With a crew of six we were second pump in to a house fire in Jacobs Street, Lowestoft. White Watch were riding with a crew of four so us having six meant we could provide two BA teams, if required.
To access Jacob Street there are some tight spots as you make your way in on the only route suitable for fire engines.
Two BA were already in the terraced house as Simon and I made our way to the house as the next BA team.
Thankfully the fire hadn't got out of control and our services weren't required. Oxygen therapy was given to the occupants who were being looked after by a neighbour.
With everything cleared away, we went door to door, checking that the homeowners had smoke alarms and advising them that they can request a Home Fire Safety Check from Suffolk Fire and Rescue. At a guess I would say that at least half of the properties did not have a smoke alarm fitted. These were supplied there and then and installed.
A fire at any time is a devastating event. Potential loss of life, damage to property, insurance claims and so much more. But a fire at Christmas seems so much worse…
That's it, job done, head back to Normanshurst.
Except that more people have arrived back home and struggled to find a parking space. In the space of 100 metres Cheesey had to slow to a crawl twice to squeeze through narrow gaps. If we had been going to the shout, this delay in getting there could so easily cost a life. Sounds dramatic but it's true. Sometimes seconds do really count. Unfortunately, when returning home and searching for a parking space, the last thing on most peoples mind is whether there's enough space for a fire engine to get through. Spare a thought though… if it was your house that was on fire, you'd want us there as quickly as possible, wouldn't you?