Firefighter Awards

A special award went to Shrewsbury’s Blue Watch whose firefighters host a day of fun and laughter for children from Chernobyl when they visit Shrewsbury Fire Station each year as part of a county wide charity event.

It was presented at a Celebration of Success event held at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn to mark “the passing out” of newly trained firefighters.

Paul Gray, Richard Meadows, Andy Davies and Graham Carless received their award from Chief Fire Officer Rod Hammerton (pictured).

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Thu, 20/10/2016 - 11:18

Shropshire's New Firefighter Recruits

Firefighters are sometimes the only people who can help when a “catastrophe” strikes in the community, says Shropshire’s fire chief.

“When their emergency pagers go off, day or night, they drop everything leaving behind half eaten meals or half mown lawns. The rest of the time they are waiting for the 999 call, knowing that at any moment they could be called to help someone in peril,” said chief fire officer, Rod Hammerton.

He was speaking at a Celebration of Success event held at Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn to mark “the passing out” of newly trained firefighters.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Mon, 17/10/2016 - 12:10

Top Award for Fire Service Apprentice

Seventeen-year-old fire service apprentice Dan Adams this week clinched a top prize at the National Apprenticeship Awards.

Dan, who lives in Shrewsbury and joined Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service along with five other apprentices in July last year, fought off strong competition from almost 1,000 young hopefuls to collect a "High Commended" award at the event held in Hinckley, Leicestershire.

His entry will now be considered by a judging panel that will decide whether to send Dan on to the national final in London in January.

Submitted by Deryn Jones on Thu, 06/10/2016 - 15:42

Shropshire's High Sheriff in Mock Car Rescue

Shropshire’s immaculately dressed High Sheriff swapped her refinery for fire kit and safety goggles to be “rescued” from a crashed car by firefighters.

Christine Holmes climbed into the front seat of a scrap 14-year-old grey Suzuki car ready for six firefighters from Green Watch at Shrewsbury Fire Station to practise a rescue.

The high profile road collision “victim” was in the driving seat to see at first hand how firefighters regularly free victims of county road crashes from their wrecked vehicles.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Mon, 03/10/2016 - 14:31

Pioneer Pet Rescue

A pet oxygen mask has been used for the first time in Shropshire to revive a cat in a house fire.

Harriet, a 15-year-old tortoiseshell tabby, had fled to a bedroom as smoke from a kitchen fire filled the house in Diksmuide Drive, Ellesmere.

Householder Shelley Hall had managed to rescue her two dogs and a Chinchilla, slumped in its cage, before escaping from the blaze which is believed to have started when clothes were put onto an electric cooker plate – later turned on by the cat.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Thu, 29/09/2016 - 16:21

Cyclists Celebrate Marathon Charity Bike Ride

Shropshire’s new Chief Fire Officer has visited each of the county’s 23 fire stations…on his bike.

Rod Hammerton said he was “proud” to have completed the marathon ride with firefighting colleagues, support staff, friends and family to raise much needed funds for The Severn Hospice and the Fire Fighters’ Charity which helps sick and injured firefighters and their families.

The pedal powered tour involved the fire chief and the 20 strong team taking to two wheels to cycle 239 miles over three days.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Mon, 26/09/2016 - 10:28

Cyclists Take A Well Earned Break

Firefighter Graham Rowley, of Shrewsbury’s Red Watch, takes a well earned break at the end of the first day of a marathon charity cycle ride in which he and colleagues rode 67 miles from Shrewsbury to Ludlow via six fire stations.

Graham is with Zoe Foster, a sports massage therapist and Helen Smith, an Indian head masseur at the end of the first day of the cycle ride to visit all 23 Shropshire fire stations.

A total of 20 cyclists completed 67 miles today ending day one at Ludlow fire station where the cyclists were "pampered."

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Fri, 23/09/2016 - 11:35

Marathon Charity Cycle Ride Sets Off

Cyclists from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service set off this morning on a marathon 239 three day cycle ride to all of the county's 23 fire stations - all in aid of The Severn Hospice and the Fire Fighters Charity.

Fire Chief Rod Hammerton said: “It will be a challenge and I am not sure I am looking forward to it. But I am sure the good company and beautiful scenery will carry us all through. My thanks go to the organising team who have spent so much of their own time bringing this all together but I know they were inspired and motivated by doing it for such good causes.”

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Thu, 22/09/2016 - 12:10

Fire Chief Gets On His Bike

Shropshire’s new Chief Fire Officer will visit each of the county’s 23 fire stations…on his bike.

It’s not the usual approach for a new boss to meet staff working in the far flung corners of the county or another cost cutting exercise.

But the pedal powered tour is all in aid of charity as Rod Hammerton takes to two wheels along with more than 20 firefighting colleagues, support staff and family and friends from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Wed, 21/09/2016 - 17:52

Electric Blankets Danger

Electric blankets can be a serious fire safety risk, warn Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, which is offering free checks at county fire stations in September.

A quarter of electric blankets are condemned as dangerous after they fail the test, revealed Fire Safety Officer Alison Teece.

“Your electric blanket may appear safe especially if it is not very old but damage to the blanket is not always visible and this can lead to it catching fire,” warned Alison.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Thu, 15/09/2016 - 10:44

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