Summer floods 2007: Multiple response to multi-tiered disasterCFO Paul Hayden describes the national response to July’s flooding: a multiagency,multi-agency, multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional approachNational Co-ordination and dedication for flood responseCFOA President Steve McGuirk outlines the work of the CLG Emergency Information Support Group, the National Co-ordination Centre and CFOA’s Inland Water Strategy Group, in response to the flooding
When floods came to Oxford
The floods of July 20 and the following days have seen the largest operation in the history of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
Fighting the floods from West Yorkshire to LondonFire and rescue services as far apart as London and West Yorkshire playedtheir part in the summer of flooding, if not responding to their ownemergencies, then supplying resources to those in need
All hands to the pumps at CollegeIt was a case of ‘all hands to the pumps’ as staff at the Fire Service Collegecame to the rescue of hundreds of people who were victims of the recentfloods
Spectacular blaze flattens Walsall millWest Midlands Fire Service was faced with its largest fire for 25 years as theheart of Walsall was gripped by a blaze in a huge disused leather mill reports DCFO Vij RandeniyaIn This Section:
“Whilst we are committed to learning from this event and striving to do even better in the future, there is no doubt that a great many lives were saved by our collective response to what has been unprecedented flooding incidents across the whole country”
CFO Paul Hayden, Hereford and Worcester, on the national co-ordination to the summer floodings (pg 14)
“Our firefighters and all our supporting functions deserve our gratitude and admiration for their unstinting work in the most difficult working conditions during the flooding and their continuing work supporting local authorities to help communities to get back on their feet.”
CFOA President Steve McGuirk praises the co-ordinated response from all the fire and rescue services involved in the response efforts (pg 18)
“West Yorkshire has always been a very progressive brigade and this is one of the areas where we are ahead of the game. There is no doubt we were overloaded on June 25, but we coped well. The important point is that rescues were performed quickly, effectively and safely by trained personnel using the correct equipment. We saved lives safely.”Geoff Crossley, Station Manager for Operations’ Equipment, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (pg 21)“Embers the size of tennis balls fell on flat roofs several hundred yards down wind and a mobile sector using five pumps and a station commander were tasked with controlling any resulting outbreaks of fire. They dealt with five separate fires… At the height of firefighting, eight main jets, two aerial monitors and five ground monitors were in use. Breathing Apparatus crews – 40 wearers in total – and an aerial monitor were also deployed to prevent further fire spread.”DCFO Vij Randeniya on the response to the Shannon’s Mill fire in Walsall, West Midlands which saw 150 firefighters, 25 pumps, an HVP, two aerials and other specialist equipment respond to the blaze (pg 24)
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