For once the timing of my alerter going off was perfect. I'd just finished my spag bol and wiped up the last bit of juice with a piece of garlic bread when the alerter kicked into life. Oh well, the washing up will have to wait…
When I jog through the appliance bay I'm met by the great and good of Red Watch (and Rachael) waiting to come on duty at 6pm.
Ladder 1 is already out with Green Watch on board and there's just one light up for Ladder 2. A quick look at the tip sheet and it's Make Pumps 2 on Corton Cliffs in Lowestoft for an undergrowth fire. Just as everyone starts arriving, the bells go again. It's now Make Pumps 3 and the ERT is required.
Not knowing how many we'll get turn in, I hang back and take the drivers tally on the ERT (NT06). Go to stick my fire kit in a locker only to be gentled reminded by the onlooking Red Watch that there is space for the drivers kit on the nearside of the appliance.
Ladder 2 mobilises with a crew of five as we wait to get a full crew of six. Knowing the area we're going to it's always handy to have as many firefighterson a crew as possible. Dragging hose through undergrowth, establishing a water supply from the not-too-close hydrant all eats up resources.
So, with a full complement on board, I head out into the early evening traffic.
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We were about to turn into Corton Road for the long straight run to the fire when we were instructed to approach from the opposite end. So we carried on towards Yarmouth, past Tesco's, down Corton Long Lane and then back along the cliffs. I even had the chance to try out the three stage sirens – using the different settings depending on your distance from a 'hazard' – changing between each one by simply pressing on the road horn button situated on the steering wheel.
With smoke drifting across the road I pulled up in the fend off position, even though the road was closed off behind us – can't be too careful especially with some of the numpties out there on the road!
We extended the hosereel and then I ran out two lengths of 70 from Ladder 1 to us. A hydrant was being set into about 400 metres away going into Ladder 2, delivering to Ladder 1 and then finally to me on the ERT. Once the water supply was established, a 45 was run out on to the cliffs to enable the crew to blast the undergrowth and root out any hotspots.
I had an early shower, courtesy of a stuck non-return valve on the collecting head of the tank fill. I'd plugged the 70 from Ladder 1 into the collecting head and given the 'water on' to Dave Ives only to be met with a torrent of water heading in my direction. Water off was my next request to Dave, funnily enough, as I stood there dripping just as ADO (or is it Group Manager now) Labdon strolled up. I think his immediate thought was that I'd f**ked up but not on this occasion… The non return valve had stuck in the open position allowing the water going in to the collecting head to come out just as quickly! Use of a Finger, Index, Mark 1 rectified the problem…
Thankfully the fire was extinguished pretty quickly and we were able to head off after a quick wash down of the hose and other gear.
And then home to face the congealed remainder of the spag bol and the washing up…