Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service are supporting Arson Awareness Week (May 3-9) by focusing on their Firesetter Intervention Programme aimed at young children who are drawn to lighting fires.
Our Firesetter Intervention Programme helps children and young people understand and control the feelings and circumstances that lead them to set fires.
Most children show a natural interest and curiosity in fire, even if they do not display any firesetting behaviour. Children may be fascinated by the glow from a real flame from when they blow out their birthday candles,...
Eight fire engines from Witheridge, Chulmleigh, Crediton, North Tawton, Exeter, Tiverton, Okehampton along with a water carrier, aerial appliance and an incident command unit were mobilised to reports of a thatched roof on fire at a property at Oldborough Cross near Morchard Bishop this morning (Thursday 16 April).
On arrival crews confirmed thatch roof involved in fire and are at work using hose reel jets and ladders to extinguish the fire.
At 12.45pm crews asked for a further two appliances. These were mobilised from standby at Exeter.
With sunny weather predicted for this week many people will be encouraged to be outside, whether this is a causal stroll in the countryside or hiking across Dartmoor.
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service remind walkers and campers to be mindful of the impact and damage that a gorse fire has on the environment.
They also tie up valuable fire resources for some time.
The Fire Service are advising people to be vigilant in rural areas and follow this simple advice:
• extinguish cigarettes and other smoking materials properly • never throw cigarette...
As the days start to get warmer, but the nights can still be cold, Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service remind you to make sure your chimneys are safe and secure as possible, especially when lighting up fires that haven't been used for a while.
Be extra careful if your home is a thatched property as 80% of thatched properties in the UK are within Devon & Somerset.
Marc House, Community Safety Prevention Manager explains: “Fire in a thatched roof is difficult to detect and once started is difficult to control. Once a fire has taken hold within a roof it will...
A caravan was destroyed by fire at Exeter Racecourse this morning.
One fire fighting appliance from Middlemoor and an appliance from Danes Castle attended reports of a caravan on fire at Exeter Racecourse on Haldon Hill just after 7.40am.
A spokesman for the fire service said: “Upon arrival, crews found one touring caravan completely destroyed by fire, crews used one main jet and two breathing apparatus and a thermal imaging camera.
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service is joining with Fire and Rescue Services across the UK in supporting Fire Sprinkler Week 2015, taking place from 16-22 March.
This is the second annual sprinkler awareness campaign undertaken by Fire and Rescue services and this year is focusing on the way that fitting sprinklers can help businesses and education, by reducing the impact of a fire.
Lee Howell, Chief Fire Officer said: “Devon & Somerset fully support this campaign as sprinklers save lives, protect property, promote prosperity and contribute to the community...
Firefighters up and down the country are preparing to roll up their sleeves to take part in the National Car Wash this March 14, raising vital funds for The Fire Fighters Charity.
Firmly established on the fire and rescue service calendar, the National Car Wash is the charity's largest national fundraising event of the year.
Motorists are invited to take their car along and have it washed in return for a donation to The Fire Fighters Charity, the UK’s leading provider of services that enhance quality of life for serving and retired fire service personnel and their families...
The Fire Brigades Union has decided upon a further day of strike action in England (excluding control staff) in a dispute with the Government over pension reforms, for 24 hours from 7am on Wednesday 25 February 2015.
The issue remains a matter between the Fire Brigades Union and Government. Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service has robust contingency plans in place to ensure that we continue to respond to emergency incidents throughout strike action.
Chief Fire Officer Lee Howell said: “Fire and Rescue Services have contingency plans and ours will again be put into...
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service today issued advice to the owners of thatched properties following a blaze which destroyed a thatched cottage in Ide, near Exeter last week.
Twelve fire engines were at the incident in Little John’s Cross and fire crews have re-visited throughout the weekend to dampen down hotspots.
Firefighters covered neighbouring thatched properties with foam to prevent the fire spreading and worked hard to save as much of the building and its contents as possible.
The fire is believed to have started inside the building before...
Firefighters tackled a large fire at a thatched property on the outskirts Exeter on Friday.
Three fire engines along with an aerial ladder platform from Exeter were sent to a report of curtains on fire within a property with a thatched roof at Little Johns Cross, Ide, just after 8.30 this morning.
Upon arrival the crew confirmed that the thatched roof was involved in fire and requested the attendance of seven more fire engines.
These appliances were sent from Topsham, Crediton, Newton Abbot, Cullompton, Exmouth and Torquay.
