Shrewsbury restaurant owner John Mustafa makes a charity donation to Watch Manager Mel Kapitanec, firefighter Keith Woodville and daughter Amelia after the fire station's annual open day
Shropshire firefighters showcased their skills to the public at a charity open day at Shrewsbury Fire Station which raised £500.
Hundreds of visitors got a "unique insight" into the workings of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service when they saw the wide variety of vehicles and specialist equipment needed to carry out the broad range of incidents which fire crews are regularly called to.
Councillor Peter Cherrington, a new member of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority, was "rescued" to simulate what happens in a real life extrication after a road traffic collision. The crowd watched as the vehicle was cut from around the councillor using specialist cutting equipment.
Councillor Peter Cherrington is “rescued” from a crashed car (image courtesy of Sally Barnett)
Firefighters from Green Watch demonstrated a line rescue lowering a stretcher to the ground from the 10 metre high drill tower.
While a shocked crowd witnessed the speed and ferocity in which a chip pan fire took hold in a controlled demonstration to show how dangerous it can be in the home and the reason behind the need for thermostatically controlled chip pans.
Staff from Shrewsbury's Masala Indian restaurant provided food and donated all takings on the day to the Firefighters Charity which helps support the rehabilitation of injured firefighters.
The sale of items including mugs and Tee shirts from the Firefighters Charity by Hayley Gazey, of the brigade's HR department, raised £300.
Children enjoyed go-karting along a specially prepared track at the St Michaels Street fire station by GB Go Karts.
The brigade's Outreach vehicle provided community fire safety advice aimed at educating the public to continue to reduce the number of fire deaths and injuries in the county.
Shrewsbury Station Manager Neil Griffiths said: “The crews worked very hard to give members of the public this opportunity to see firefighters showcasing their skills and showing off the array of vehicles and specialist kit that serve to protect our communities.
"Everyone had a great deal of fun with face painting, hose squirting and even a visit from some Imperial Storm Troopers from the set of Star Wars. But we also had serious messages to deliver including the vital need for every home to have a working smoke detector and to ensure that all of your family have an escape plan in the event of a fire.”
Retained firefighters from Shrewsbury's Amber Watch organised and hosted the annual open day.
The open day on June 22 raised around £500 with the help of donations from Andy and Allison Morris, of GB Go-Karts, Paolo’s ice creams and John Mustafa from The Masala Indian Restaurant.
