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| | YOU SAY: YOUR LETTERS | | | | | | | NEWS FROM RAMSBOTTOM, TOTTINGTON AND DISTRICT | | | |  | |
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After 30 years with the fire service, the borough commander goes back to basics
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| It's all smiles at the start of Kevan's 15 hour shift |
THE borough's fire chief has gone back to his roots to learn first hand how firefighting has changed over the last 30 years.
Kevan Whitehead, the borough commander and most senior fire officer in Bury, started his career in the fire service back in 1978 and his first posting was at Bury fire station.
Over the last three decades, there have been many changes including the equipment used, the incidents attended and the daily activities utilised to make the community safe from fire and other emergencies.
So, in an effort to better understand the role of the firefighter in 2008, Kevan became the newest member of Red Watch during a
15-hour night shift.
Kevan kept a diary of his night on the shop floor. Here is his experience, in his own words, during the shift.
"The shift started with a brief from the watch commander, Peter Fletcher, who detailed the firefighters so they all understood their roles, and mine, for the shift.
"I was told I would be riding as Number 5 on the second pump. This role generally means I would be the gopher', supporting the rest of the crew in an incident. This could include providing water supplies, equipment, first-aid treatment, muscle and anything else the watch commander could think of. No quarter for rank would be provided none was expected!
"The evening commenced with checking the equipment carried on the ten-tonne tool-box-on-wheels, also known as a fire engine. It is essential to know the equipment will perform: failures at an emergency incident are not welcome.
"At this stage, one of the senior firefighters took me under his wing and briefed me on the correct use of the breathing apparatus carried on all fire engines. This equipment is a self-contained life support system and allows firefighters to survive in hostile, toxic atmospheres. It was imperative that as I was responding to emergency incidents, I was safe and competent to use this essential equipment, not only for my own safety but also that of my colleagues and possibly members of the public."
After the safety briefing and equipment checks, Kevan saw first hand how the brigade is no longer just a firefighting force but also a pro-active service intent on preventing fires.
He said: "By 6.30pm, the crew made its way to the Bury East area where we met up with two Police Community Safety Officers (PCSOs) and a cohort of ten Year 10 students undergoing work experience with the Fire and Rescue Service. The firefighters, PCSOs and the students had previously made contact with the residents in the area with the offer to undertake a home fire safety check, and where appropriate provide and fit smoke alarms free of charge.
"Although I had set local targets to be achieved, I had never actually undertaken one of the home safety checks myself. This allowed me to better understand the processes involved. The crews, PCSOs and students returned to the station around 8.30pm. The students went home and the crews agreed we were in much need of a fire brew' and a pot of tea was duly prepared. Peter Fletcher started to deliver a training lecture on emergency first-aid treatment and the use of automatic defibrillators. As a firefighter I had been trained in the application of emergency first aid, but defibrillators hadn't even been invented when I was last on the "pumps". Another lesson to learn!
"Halfway through the lecture, the bells' sounded - a call to an incident involving a house. I was advised that crews now dress in their protective clothing prior to the fire engine moving off, a measure intended to improve the safety of responding crews. When I was last on the pumps, crews dressed whilst on route to the incident. There are several recorded incidents of firefighters being thrown about cabs and even thrown from cabs resulting in serious injury and death. The incident turned out to be a domestic smoke alarm sounding in an empty property being refurbished. We returned to the station to continue with the lecture.
"Within 30 minutes, the bells sounded again. My pump was mobilised to a car on fire on Bolton Road, Bury. As we made our way there, a radio message was received with additional information indicating the car had been involved in a crash, was on fire and someone was still trapped inside.
"The adrenalin began to flow and we rapidly moved into a heightened state of readiness and agreed specific plans.
Flames could be seen leaping three to four metres in the air. A rapid attack with high pressure water hose reels was agreed with a snatch' rescue by the three crew members in the back of the pump - of which I was one. The incident was dealt with efficiently and fortunately no one was trapped within the vehicle. We returned to the station.
"It was now too late to carry on with the planned lecture and the watch commander instructed personnel to undertake maintenance of equipment. By 11pm, it was time for a meal break - spaghetti bolognaise and garlic bread prepared by one of the on-duty firefighters. I was ready for some food as I hadn't eaten since lunchtime. Fortunately, I hadn't lost my ability to eat quickly and rapidly demolished my serving before assisting with the washing up."
After midnight, crews are allowed to rest or undertake private study. Kevan took advantage to clear a few jobs outstanding from his normal day job. But it wasn't long before the bells were ringing again.
"At 1.30am we were called to deal with a fridge on fire in the Walmersley area. And not long after a further call came in at 4am requesting assistance from crews in Bolton who were attending a serious house fire.
"At 7am, following a quick brew, we began to prepare for the change of shift. The fire engines were refuelled and cleaned. Equipment used during the previous evening was checked and cleaned. I was tasked to mop and clean the appliance room floors.
"At 8am, watch commander Fletcher gently chastised me for forgetting to complete some paperwork from the evening before. I came off duty at 9am."
Kevan said: "This has been a super experience and has allowed me to better understand the day-to-day working of a modern firefighter. Many things have changed yet they still exhibit the strong team ethic, mutual trust and camaraderie I first encountered nearly 30 years ago. I have a lasting impression of a professional, motivated and trustworthy group of firefighters. I believe they are an accurate representative of firefighters throughout the service."
8:44am Friday 9th May 2008
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