Kent Fire & Rescue Service News

Two separate incidents of cooking-related fires in Kent have led to two residents being treated for burns Two separate incidents of cooking-related fires in Kent have led to two residents being treated for burns. In both incidents - at Rochester and Tonbridge - the occupants were alerted by working smoke alarms but firefighters are reminding people of the dangers of leaving cooking unattended. The first incident happened at 10pm on Friday 4 December when Tonbridge crews we...

KFRS and the Canterbury City Council will work together to keep the streets clean  KFRS Firefighters and Canterbury City Council call on shop owners to help stamp out arsonists putting innocent lives at risk. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is appealing to business owners to work alongside it and the council in a bid.  It is hoped that by keeping the city clean and tidy, firefighters will be called out to fewer arson-related rubbish fires. These...

A Margate man suffered serious burns after a fire started by tea lights A Margate man suffered serious burns after a fire in his home. Twenty firefighters from Margate, Ramsgate and Thanet were sent to the Grosvenor Road property at 4.50pm after the fire - started by tea lights - broke out. The occupant was asleep when the fire started but managed to escape. He sustained severe burns and smoke inhalation as a result. Firefighters, using breathing apparatus, entered the h...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service has two crews at Park Pale Kent Fire and Rescue Service has two crews at Park Pale in Rochester where firefighters are continuing to cool an acetylene cylinder following a blaze that started on December 1. Control room operators received the first call at 4.38pm on 1 December to reports of a van alight. The fire subsequently spread to the roof of the industrial unit housing the vehicle. At the height of the blaze, two crews...

It took five fire appliances to tackle the blaze caused by a candle The fire was caused by a candle, but tragedy was avoided by a smoke alarm. At 1.55 Sunday morning (29th November, 2010) Kent Fire and Rescue Service were called to a house fire in Penshurst Road, Penshurst.The occupants were already out when the fire service arrived but the fire required five appliances to help tackle the blaze, which was located on both floors.It was discovered that a candle had caused...

Canterbury firefighters are urging residents to 'watch what they heat' after a fire Canterbury firefighters are urging residents to 'watch what they heat' after a fire, which was caused by unattended cooking, left student accommodation damaged. Two fire crews were sent to Heaton Road, Canterbury just after 9.30 on 26 November after control room operators received a distressed emergency call from the residents. Once at the scene, firefighters in breathing apparatus made the...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has launched the musically-flavoured 'Stand by Your Pan' film The short film on Youtube is designed to capture the attention of forgetful cooks before this festive season. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has launched the musically-flavoured 'Stand by Your Pan' as a response to figures which highlight a particular risk to those who get peckish after a few drinks. The light-hearted approach of this Tammy Wynette inspired vira...

The aftermath of a serious car crash will be played out to students at North West Kent College in Dartford The aftermath of a serious car crash will be played out to students at North West Kent College in Dartford on Wednesday, 2 December. Entitled "Operation Carmageddon", the demonstration involves firefighters from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) cutting free a mock "casualty" from the wreckage of a crashed car. Staff from Kent Police and the South East Coast Ambulanc...

Firefighters are warning Kent residents to cook with safety in mind Firefighters are warning Kent householders to cook with safety in mind. The alert follows a fire in Herne Bay in the early hours of yesterday morning (22 November). Crews are specifically advising residents not to drink and cook after a man had to be pulled to safety from his smoke-filled flat by firefighters. The warning comes after the man, in his forties, who had been drinking, fell asleep w...

North Kent firefighters recently took part in a training exercise to learn tackling fires in high rise buildings North Kent firefighters have been back to college for a training exercise to tackle blazes in high rise buildings. Around 25 staff and four appliances were involved in the drill which simulated a fire and required the rescue of people trapped on the sixth floor of a special tower at Dartford's North West Kent College. The practice is part of ongoing training tak...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service tackles dangerous driving by young people The campaign will be launched at Larkfield Fire Station on Tuesday, 24 November. The shocking image of a young girl in a body bag is set to adorn the backs of buses as Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) steps up its push to tackle dangerous driving by young people. "Reckless driving: cut it out before we have to cut you out!" is the warning from firefighters who are supporting this hard-hitting...

KFRS officers carried out late night inspections in licensed premises in Maidstone town centre Officers from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) carried out late night inspections in licensed premises in Maidstone town centre on Saturday in response to public concerns of overcrowding. KFRS fire safety enforcement inspectors were out in force making sure that measures were in place to enable rapid and safe evacuation in case of a blaze. At this stage, inspectors are wor...

A new Realistic Fire Training (RFT) unit for firefighters is to be officially opened next week A new state-of-the-art training facility for firefighters is to be officially opened next week (17 November) at Ashford Fire Station Crews using the Realistic Fire Training (RFT) unit, in Ashford, are exposed to the real conditions they face during a blaze, otherwise only experienced at genuine incidents. The new facility consists of a tower with a three-storey house attached, si...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service has issued an electric blanket safety warning after a house fire in Tonbridge Kent Fire and Rescue Service is issuing an electric blanket safety warning after a house fire in Tonbridge left an elderly couple needing to be temporarily re-housed. The fire broke out in an upstairs bedroom of their two-storey home in Brook Street in the early hours of Sunday morning as the couple slept. They awoke to a smouldering fire at the end of their...

  The firefighters arrived seemingly within seconds, and quickly got to work fighting the fire Wine bar owner praises firefighters for successfully tackling the blaze in his historical property Richard Davies, who owns Rumours Wine Bar, in The Square Birchington, discovered the fire on Friday evening (November 6) and immediately dialled 999. He said: "I was extremely pleased with the response of the firefighters - they arrived in what seemed seconds of me cal...

KFRS advise comes after a spate of road traffic collisions in October across Kent  A series of crashes has prompted Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) to urge drivers and passengers to take care while driving. The message follows a dramatic rise in the number of road traffic collisions (RTCs) attended by firefighters across Kent. In October fire crews were sent to 112 incidents, compared with 76 in September - a rise of 47.4 per cent, resulting in three death...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service offers free home safety visits to all Kent residents Firefighters discovered that the man had badly burnt himself while attempting to tackle the fire by himself. Never attempt to tackle a fire yourself - that's the stark message from firefighters after a pensioner suffered burns to his face and arms following a fire in his Ashford home. Two crews were called to the flat in Meadowsweet House, Hackfield, Ashford, just before 1.30pm on November...

Kent and Medway are changing fast with new large scale developments in housing, retail and transport, and environmental risks like extreme weather and floods. To keep you safe, Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) needs to begin planning for those changes now - and it wants local people to get involved with shaping the future of the service. Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority Chairman, Bryan Cope said: "Kent Fire and Rescue Service works around the clock, 365 days a...

Kent Fire & Rescue Service issues behaviour tips to avoid fires caused by carelessness A Whitstable woman is recovering in hospital today after being rescued by firefighters from a blaze in her home which was caused by a discarded cigarette. Edwina Nixon fell asleep while smoking which set light to the sofa at her home in Station Road, shortly after 7pm last night. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) was alerted to the terrace property after neighbours spotted smoke...

A FEMA image showing the effects of the recent tsunami in Indonesia UK USAR team deployed to aid relief efforts Kent Fire and Rescue Service's Urban and Search and Rescue (USAR) Team is set to join the humanitarian relief effort in Indonesia. This specialist team of eight staff is among nine fire and rescue service units from the UK which have been deployed to fly from Gatwick today to help in the aftermath of Wednesday's earthquake which killed at least 1,000 people and i...

Firefighters from Kent Fire and Rescue Service demonstrating the extrication of car crash victims at last year's event Event aims to promote safer driving amongst young people The sobering realities of being involved in a serious road traffic collision will be played out in Canterbury on Wednesday 7 October, when local firefighters stage a mock crash. "Operation Carmageddon" aims to encourage young motorists to drive with care after research reveals they are more likely to...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service personnel make their way down one of the tunnels Exercise designed to improve crews' tunnel emergency preparedness The Secret Wartime Tunnels deep within the cliffs of Dover was the set of a important drill that took place yesterday evening (22 September). The exercise, called Henry, saw staff from Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) and English Heritage responding to a serious fire deep underground in the tunnels which date back to the Middle A...

Children and young people are likely responsible for half the fires Children and young people are thought to be responsible for half The number of grass and woodland fires being started deliberately is on the rise in Kent. Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is warning that deliberate fires have the potential to get out of hand, causing serious injury or even death and are asking residents to be extra vigilant in the fight to stop the perpetrators. Since the beginning of...

A tent lit up at night: fires in tents or caravans can spread very quickly Fires in tents and caravans can spread rapidly If you are heading off for a relaxing weekend in your tent or caravan this summer, Kent Fire and Rescue Services (KFRS) is suggesting some simple guidelines to keep your trip safe. KFRS Head of Community Safety, Stuart Skilton, said: "Holidays should be an enjoyable time for all the family but some outdoor activities, such as camping, can bring risks. F...

  Kent Fire and Rescue work to crackdown on fires in grassland areas Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is working with partner agencies to crackdown on a spate of fires on the Dartford Heath. Fire crews have been called out to the area on 16 occasions in 10 weeks. They are now involved in local schemes aimed at reducing the risk of fire spread, but residents are also being asked to play their part in preventing blazes breaking out.Dartford Station Manager Br...

Never leave your barbecue unattendedor use petrol to light it With the summer season in full swing and temperatures set to soar even further, Kent Fire and Rescue Service is warning the public to take extra care with barbecues. Assistant Director for Community Safety, Steve Griffiths said, "With the weather so good for activities, such as barbecues, it's only natural to want to be outside, enjoying it with family and friends. But there are dangers that lurk behind such fun p...

KFRS is warning of the need for rural fire safety throughout the summer UK fire and rescue service warns of rural fire hazards throughout hot summer With a hot summer predicted, Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is urging people to protect the countryside by being extra careful not to start or cause fires through carelessness. A few days of warm weather can dry out vegetation and grass verges, so crop fields and woodland can easily catch light if people are...

Kent Fire and Rescue Services have selected the Kronos solution Fire service to maximise the number of fire and rescue vehicles at key times Kent Fire and Rescue Service has selected Kronos to improve the management and utilisation of 2,000 staff across all 70 of its locations, including fire stations and community safety offices. The Kronos solution will enable Kent Fire and Rescue to plan staff availability, track attendance and allocate staff to duties. The employee s...

KFRS rescue a mother and daughter from a fire sparked by kitchen lights A mother and daughter in danger of being overcome by smoke were rescued from a first floor window by Canterbury firefighters. Red Watch were called to the city's Monks Close at 2.10am today (Friday) and saw the pair hanging from a bedroom window. Firefighters rescued them and then also carried out two Welsh border collies from the smoke-filled house. Two further puppies in the property's kitchen -...

Kent Fire and Rescue Service has teamed up with local gypsies and travellers to produce a DVD offering vital fire safety advice. The devastating effects of fire are highlighted in a series of graphic demonstrations and through personal testimonies. Travellers are also offered simple guidance on how to keep themselves, their caravans and trailers safe. KFRS Assistant Director of Operational Services, Sean Bone-Knell, said: "We are aiming to reach all sections of the diverse communities within K...