I had just left off work and was driving home when I felt that familiar vibration on my left hip, accompanied by the persistent, shrill call that signals another shout.
Even though I’d got a head start, it still seemed to take an age to get to the fire station.
I was actually second in behind Ballsy who was surprised at being in first. In six years that’s got to be a record. He was literally driving in to the station yard to book off when the alerters went off, so he couldn’t have failed to be first in!
We were off to Berkeley Gardens which isn’t far from Normanshurst to reports of a fire in a tumble dryer.
Green Watch already had two BA in the house and had dealt with the fire, situated in the utility room.
It seems that the fire was discovered when the home owner and her children arrived back home. They were very obviously distressed and were being cared for by neighbours.
The utility room was well and truly smoke blackened, with smoke damage also to the rest of the property.
Unfortunately the two pet cats succumbed to the smoke and were found in separate parts of the house.
And, having seen the devastation caused by a relatively small fire, it’s worth remembering to close all doors and I, personally, wouldn’t leave a tumble dryer, washing maching or dishwasher on when going out.
It could have been far worse though. There were no fatalities (except the cats) and the arrival home of the house owner then and not later meant that the fire didn’t get a chance to develop further…