Firefighters answer over 250 storm calls

Firefighters responded to over 250 calls in Devon and Somerset yesterday as storm winds battered the South West.

People were rescued from cars and unsafe buildings by the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) often in the same area simultaneously.

Area Manager Phil Martin said that people were gambling with their lives if they chose to drive through floodwater.

He said: “Your car can float in as little as 30cm of water and it takes much less than that to knock someone off their feet.

“People must ask themselves, is it worth gambling with your car and maybe even your life to take the shortest route home rather than take a detour on a safer journey.

“Floodwater can cause significant and expensive damage to your car but it can also cost the lives of you and the people with you.”

Area Manager Martin also reminded motorists that while the Service responds to save life in emergencies, it does not recover vehicles stranded in floodwater afterwards.

“Please keep up to date with weather forecasts for your area and check on older relatives, friends and neighbours,” he added.

Firefighters are set to strike over an ongoing dispute with the government this evening and again on new year's eve

The main weather-related incidents last night were:

Devon  23/12/13
10:14  Victoria Road, Dartmouth  - Dangerous structure made safe.
10:26  Cross Street, Seaton - Dangerous structure made safe.
11:28  Lower Saltram, Oreston, Plymstock - Dangerous structure made safe.
11:31  Marine Drive, Paignton - Dangerous structure made safe.
11:44  Exeter Street, Bretonside, Plymouth - Dangerous structure made safe.
11:44  Southernhay West, City, Exeter - Dangerous structure made safe.
11:52  Albert Road, Devonport, Plymouth - Dangerous structure made safe.
11:44  Southernhay West, City, Plymouth - Dangerous structure made safe.
11:47   Stevenstone Road, Exmouth - Flooding inside property made safe
12:04  Old Laira Raod, Laira, Plymouth - Dangerous structure made safe.
12:19 The Broadway, Plymstock - Flooding inside property made safe.
12:25  Kitbridge, Chardstock, Axminster - Dangerous structure made safe.
12:27  Warberry Road West, Torquay - Dangerous structure made safe.
12:28  Turner Avenue, Exmouth - Dangerous structure made safe.
12:30  Haddington Road, Stoke, Plymouth - Dangerous structure made safe.
12:31  Grenadier Road, Exeter - Dangerous structure made safe.
13:33  Appledore Road, Appledore - Three persons rescued from car in floodwater.
13:49   Hopton Close, Plymouth - Dangerous strucutre made safe.
13:56   High Street, Honiton - Dangerous structure made safe.
16:00   Staplehill Road, Liverton, Newton Abbot - One car driven into floodwater.  Fire crews confirmed floodwater receding and occupant now remaining in vehicle to await recovery.
16:49   Blackaller, North Bovey - Floodwater from River Bovey, which has burst its banks, diverted away from domestic properties.
17:01   Lamerton, near Tavistock - Flooding diverted away from domestic properties.
17:16  Langford Bridge, Honiton - Disabled passenger and driver of vehicle assisted from vehicle in floodwater.
17:20  Whimple, Exeter - Family with car in floodwater given assistance.
18:56  Clifford Bridge, Dunsford, Exeter - Elderly female stuck in car in floodwater rendered assistance.

 24/12/13
00:26 hrs - Blackaller, North Bovey - Fire crews carried out extensive pumping to remove floodwater from inside property.
00:40 hrs - Running Moor Lane, Hatherleigh - Fire crews diverted water away from property affected by floodwater.
00:52 hrs - B3261 Kilmington towards Axminster - Two persons rescued from car stuck in floodwater and taken to a safe location.
01:02 hrs - Littlehempston, Totnes - Fire crews pumped advancing floodwater from property and away from property to reduce water levels.  Western Power were requested to attend for one electricity transformer on a pole partially submerged in floodwater at this location.
01:05 hrs - Littlehempston, Totnes - Fire crews assisted with salvage from property affected by floodwater and pumped water from property and surrounding area.
01:52 hrs - Bickley Mill, Stoneycombe, Newton Abbot - Two males stuck in vehicle in floodwater assisted from vehicle and escorted to a safe location.
06:22 hrs - Way Hill, Chagford - Eighteen inches of floodwater pumped from cellar of property.
06:26 hrs - Whitford Road, Musbury, Axminster - Two males stuck in vehicle in floodwater rescued from car.  Fire crews rendered oxygen therapy to one elderly male suffering from exhaustion and requested the attendance of Ambulance