Kent Fire & Rescue Service News

KFRS received around 20emergency calls after Kent was hit by floods Following heavy rains, Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) received around 20 emergency calls to reports of flooding and issued safety advice to the public.Herne Bay was worst hit, with the Environment Agency reporting more than 60 properties, mainly basement flats, affected by surface water flooding caused by heavy rainfall. After fire officers visited properties in Central Parade and Mortimer Street, Herne...

Folkstone has witnessed about 112 road traffic collisions recently involving mostly young drivers Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is stepping up its road safety campaign in Folkestone aimed at young drivers. New statistics for the last three years reveal that there have been 112 road traffic collisions in Folkestone involving drivers aged 17-24, out of which 148 people were injured, 1 fatally and 7 seriously. As part of the KFRS's road safety initiative 'Operation Carmag...

New schools in Kent will be fitted with fire sprinklers Kent Fire and Rescue Service is working with council planners and architects to promote installation of sprinklers. New schools in Kent are to be fitted with sprinkler systems, following a decision by Kent County Council to improve fire safety. The move will see officials from Kent Fire and Rescue service working with council planners and architects to encourage the installation of systems in all new or large renova...

KFRS has issued safety tips to ensure garden bonfires don't result in fire accidents Kent Fire and Rescue Service is issuing safety tips to ensure garden bonfires don't result in injury or property damage.As the spring weather tempts more residents out in to the garden, maybe to start tidying up after the long winter months and dispose of garden waste, Kent Fire and Rescue Service is issuing safety tips to ensure garden bonfires don't result in injury or property damage. He...

No Smoking Day (Wednesday 10 March), smokers are being urged to quit their habit To mark No Smoking Day (Wednesday 10 March), smokers are being urged to quit their habit or realise its danger, as national statistics reveal that cigarettes and smoking products are the biggest killer in accidental fires in the home. Despite this shocking wake-up call, less than half (40%) of smokers are aware that smoking is the biggest cause of deaths in accidental house fires.2 In the last...

  Most of the residents acted on hearing the mains smoke alarms and left the premises. Photo: Vicky Curtis, KFRS Folkestone firefighters are urging residents to 'watch what they heat' after a fire, caused by unattended cooking, resulted in a man being rescued from a block of flats. Three fire appliances were sent to the building in Marine Terrace, Folkestone just before 8.30 pm (18 February) after control room operators received emergency calls from a pass...

Sarah Brown has thanked KFRS and other search and rescue team for their contribution in Halti Sarah Brown hosted a tea at Downing Street to thank a specialist search and rescue team - including staff from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) - for their contribution to the rescue effort in Haiti. The six staff flew to the Caribbean island in mid-January to assist in the international effort to rescue survivors in the aftermath of the earthquake which killed and injured thous...

KFRS is repeating its call to residents to stay safe during this prolonged period of cold weather Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) repeats its call to residents to stay safe during this prolonged period of cold weather. In the last two days temperatures have plummeted and some areas of the county have been struck by heavy snow. However, there are simple yet effective ways to help keep you, your family and your home safe during this inclement weather. They are: • I...

KFRS issued a few simple tips to keep homes and residents safe from the risk of cooking fires With many households flipping pancakes on Shrove Tuesday (16 February), the Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) issued a few simple tips to keep you and your home safe from the risk of cooking fires. Nearly a third (30.4 percent) of accidental dwelling fires that KFRS attended last year were cooking related.* Head of Community Safety Stuart Skilt...

The fire safety lesson was quite graphic in order to shock the participants into taking care on the road The dangers of drink/drug driving and dealing with different driving conditions were some of the issues covered at a recent multi-agency road safety event in Ashford. Around 130 sixth formers from The Towers School joined Kent's emergency services and local authorities to take part in and watch a number of workshops, presentations, displays and a simulated crash scenario...

A working smoke alarm can provide an early warning of a fire Firefighters warn householders of the importance of fitting working smoke alarms. The warning comes after crews were called to an incident in Margate. Two crews from Margate and Thanet were sent to the first floor flat on Rancorn Road, Margate at 5.30pm on Thursday, 4 February after a chip pan caught alight when the resident left his cooking unattended. Once at the scene, firefighters in breathing apparat...

"Take care in the kitchen" is the message from KFRS after a spate of fires in the Swale area "Take care in the kitchen" is the message from Kent Fire and Rescue Service after a spate of fires in the Swale area over the weekend. Two Sheppey appliances were sent to a fire at Clarence Row in Sheerness at 7.47pm on Sunday evening (24 January) after a cooker was left on and caused fat residues to ignite. The room was left smoke damaged. Meanwhile, Sittingbourne crews were tackl...

Kent's emergency services and local authorities are joining forces to tackle the issue of road safety Kent's emergency services and local authorities are joining forces to tackle the issue of road safety with young drivers. This multi-agency event, involving a number of workshops, presentations and displays, takes place at The Towers School in Ashford on Thursday, 28 January. It's designed to cover many road safety issues ranging from drink/drug driving, vehicle maintenanc...

Kent fire crews will be practising their response to a fire in a high rise building this week Kent fire crews practise their response to a fire in a high rise building. Arlington House in All Saints Avenue, Margate is the venue of the full-scale live emergency exercise on Tuesday January 26. Staff from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS), Thanet District Council, Freshwater (the apartment block owners), the Highways Agency, Kent Police, the Red Cross an...

KFRS crews are advising residents to use smoke alarms after a man sustained burns at a house fire Firefighters are warning householders to cook with safety in mind following a fire in Minster, Ramsgate. Crews are advising residents to fit a working smoke alarm after a man sustained burns following a fire in his home in Way Hill, Minster. It is believed that the occupant, in his late fifties, fell asleep while using a chip pan, which caught fire shortly afterwards...

A specialist search and rescue team from Kent Fire and Rescue Service has returned home from Haiti A specialist search and rescue team from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has returned home from Haiti. The six staff flew to the Caribbean island last week (January 13) to assist in the international effort to rescue survivors in the aftermath the earthquake which killed and injured thousands. Arriving back at their Maidstone base this morning (Saturday January 23), team...

Kent Firefighters are working with the UK ISAR mission in Haiti Firefighters from the Kent Fire and Rescue Service, who are working with the UK International Search and Rescue (ISAR) mission in Haiti, have returned to Port-au-Prince. The team visited the town of Leogane which is approximately 25 miles west of Port Au Prince and is much nearer to the epicentre. Reports indicate that 80 to 90 per cent of the town has been destroyed. While there, the UK ISAR te...

The team flew out to Haiti last week after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake killed thousands of people Kent firefighters, who are part of the UK International Search and Rescue (ISAR) mission in Haiti, have now moved to the town of Leogane. Approximately 25 miles west of Port Au Prince, Leogane is much nearer to the epicentre and reports indicate that 80 to 90 per cent of the town has been destroyed. No search and rescue has previously taken place there, so the UK ISAR team - wh...

Kent firefighters are working as part of the UK emergency response to the Haiti earthquake For the second day Kent firefighters are working as part of the UK emergency response to the Haiti earthquake in temperatures of over 90 degrees. Along with other UK teams they are concentrating their efforts on collapsed buildings such as schools, churches and hospitals, and areas where there have been reports of survivors. Mobile communications are extremely difficult, but in a brie...

KFRS hopes a new poster campaign will remind people of the punishment they face for hoax calls Medway residents are being warned about the dangers of hoax emergency calls after a number of false or malicious shouts for fire crews. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) hopes a new poster campaign will remind people of the punishment they face for such a crime. "As well as wasting our valuable resources, hoax calls have the potential to divert us from a real emergency - just i...

A team of specialist firefighters from Kent left for Haiti to help earthquake victims A team of specialist firefighters from Kent left for Haiti yesterday, where it will form part of the UK International Search and Rescue response to the earthquake disaster. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake had struck the night before, and it is being reported that hundreds have been killed or injured in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS), as one of...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service, as one of the first call teams, has sent a group of six firefighters to Haiti A team of specialist firefighters from Kent has arrived in Haiti to form part of the UK International Search and Rescue response to the earthquake disaster. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck on Tuesday evening and it is being reported that hundreds have been killed or injured in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS), as one o...

As the snow begins to melt, there could be new problems The Army units, which have supported Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) over the last few days are being withdrawn today but firefighters warn of new safety risks as the thaw starts. KFRS asked the military to be on standby over the weekend to assist with their heavy all terrain 4X4 vehicles, to supplement KFRS's own capability. That support was extended yesterday while some parts of Kent were still potentially diffic...

Specialist Kent firefighters are being prepared to join the UK International Search and Rescue response Specialist Kent firefighters are being prepared to join the UK International Search and Rescue response and assist in the aftermath of a massive earthquake in Haiti. A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck last night and it is being reported that hundreds have been killed or injured in and around the capital, Port-au-Prince.   Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS),...

Fire Safety Officers are urging firms to pay attention to fire safety before it is too late Businesses are being warned to make sure that the cold snap doesn't put the freeze on fire prevention. With so many workers unable to get in to work because of extremely treacherous road conditions, Kent Fire and Rescue Service is worried that fire safety measures could be forgotten or even ignored - and that this could see business owners hopes, dreams and their employees jobs...

Operation Carmageddon will demonstrate the consequences of careless driving "Reckless driving: cut it out before we have to cut you out," is the stark message from firefighters who will be demonstrating their role in the aftermath of a serious car crash with a special demonstration in Chatham High Street on Thursday, 17 December. Crews from Chatham and Medway fire stations will rescue a mock casualty from car wreckage alongside staff from Kent Police and the Kent Air Ambula...

KFRS has provided tips to protect homes for festive fire safety Kent Fire and Rescue Service urges all residents to stay safe this Christmas, and ensure that the celebrations don't end in tragedy. Latest figures from the Fire Kills campaign show a rise in the number of accidental fire deaths and injuries over the festive period. In 2008 there were 33,000 accidental house fires, 10% of which occurred in the run up to Christmas Day. People often get distracted by...

KFRS will organise free home visits to evaluate their fire safety and provide free smoke alarms if required A fire on the morning of December 8 has left a Ramsgate home badly damaged. Fire control room operators sent two engines from Ramsgate and Thanet fire station at 10am following reports of a roof alight in Colombo Square. The fire is thought to have been started accidentally. At the scene, firefighters were confronted with a well developed fire in the...

The Audit Commission's 'One Place' data shows that KMFRA performs well As part of the assessment process, a residents' survey found that over 81 per cent of people in Kent and Medway were satisfied or very satisfied with the service.The Audit Commission's 'One Place' data published online on 9 December shows that Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority (KMFRA) performs well, has strong leadership and manages its finances effectively. KMFRA Chairman Bryan Cope sa...

Around forty firefighters tackled a major blaze at a home in Broadstairs Around forty firefighters tackled a major blaze at a home in Broadstairs on December 8. Crews were sent to the large detached property in Lanthorne Road just before 12.30pm, after a passer-by spotted smoke pouring from the roof. At the fires height, six fire appliances from Whitstable, Ramsgate, Margate, Eastry and Sturry, an aerial appliance and a command support unit attended the...