Recently, residents at Hoo Marina Park were evacuated from their homes in the early hours of the morning, after a serious fire broke out at a nearby industrial site. Homeowners were woken at around 4.30 am to the sounds of popping, before seeing large amounts of smoke and flames coming from a building just a stone’s throw away in Vicarage Lane.
While over 40 firefighters tackled the blaze, which is believed to have started accidentally due to an electrical fault, around 200 people had to leave their properties, with many worried their homes would be severely damaged or destroyed.
fire safety advice
Jackie Gill, who lives at the park with their husband Jeff, said, “When the explosion happened, I turned around and it was like a dream. I thought we were probably not going back to our house.”
"Thankfully, no one was injured and the residents were able to safely return to their homes. In the last two weeks, officers from Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s Safe and Well team have returned to the park regularly, to offer reassurance and fire safety advice to those affected."
Ensuring homes are fire safe
It’s important to us that our customers know we’re here during a fire and afterward as well for help"
Steve Taylor, Safe and Well Supervisor, said, “Following a serious incident such as this, it’s very normal for people to have concerns and we hope to help relieve some of those worries by offering advice, ensuring their homes are fire safe, and just by checking they’re ok."
“It’s important to us that our customers know we’re not just here during a fire, we’re here afterward as well, to offer any help or support that we can and to make sure they feel safe.”
fire safety guidance
Working in partnership with the Medway Task Force, officers have visited each of the 350 mobile homes on the site, to deliver fire safety guidance, fit new smoke alarms, and check exits are clear. Steve added, “The response we have received has been very positive, so I hope we have been able to provide some reassurance to the people who live here."
"It’s also been a great opportunity to work together with partner agencies and with the local community. Lots of people may not realize, but the work of the fire service goes beyond the incident itself, and support and welfare after an incident is something we’re passionate about.”
Aftercare fire service
Resident Donna Bryant said, “The care we have received from the fire service has just been fantastic. From being kept informed and updated during the fire itself, to the aftercare we have received. I feel a lot safer and reassured.”
“Once the fire had been put out, I thought that’s it, that’s the end of it, but it hasn’t been. Everyone has helped us as a community, and the team has said ‘If you need us, we are here’. The service hasn’t stopped just because the fire has stopped."
