Firefighter blog
Firefighter Keiran Gillam from Green Watch at Manchester Central Fire StationWhat's it really like to be a firefighter in Greater Manchester? From attending emergency incidents and participating in specialist training to carrying out community initiatives and home fire risk assessments, everyday provides a different challenge. Keiran Gillam, a firefighter on Green Watch at Manchester Central fire station is using this blog to give you a fascinating glimpse into his life as a firefighter.
From the shift system to the different roles of a firefighter, if you've got a question about the contents of Keiran's blog take a look at his background to being a firefighter. You can also read an interview with him about what he enjoys most about being a firefighter and what he finds most challenging.
Firstly I have to apologise for the long absence since my last blog, I have been caught up with exams and assessments for future promotion. Hopefully I am back on track now and able to keep you all updated with the incidents and events of Green Watch Manchester Central.
22 July 2009 - Day Shift
My role for today is to drive the first fire appliance.
We have recently welcomed our new probationer direct from training school, Ben. Ben is 28 and was an investment advisor before joining the Fire service. Originally from Merseyside he now lives in Manchester City Centre.
Ben has to undergo a breathing aparatus assessment soon, so today started with Breathing Aparatus (BA) training. We had the opportunity to use a realistic training venue at the Police training facility in Clayton Brook. We were able to use a purpose built training 5 bedroom house. I was Ben's BA partner for this exercise and we simulated a fire in the house and that there were people missing inside, this is known as a 'Persons Reported' incident. Our task was to locate the stairs and ascent to the first floor and search for any casualties taking a hosereel with us for our protection. Ben did very well and safely located and rescued 3 simulated casualties.
In the afternoon we carried out 3 Home Fire Risk Assessments (HFRA), just to recap this is a free service we provide to all residents of Greater Manchester whereby we will fit 10yr Battery life smoke detectors as well as giving important safety advice and informing you of any potential fire risks in your home.
We also attended 3 incidents. 2 fire alarm activations, one in office premises on Deansgate and One at the New Childrens Hospital. Both were false alarms and required no Fire service actions. the 3rd incident was a small fire in a derelict house in Collyhurst - 2BA wearers entered the property with a hose reel to extinguish the fire.
23rd July 2009 - Day Shift
My role for today is to drive the Hydraulic Platform (HP)
The 2nd Fire appliance and crew are at Bolton Fire Station all day today carrying out Rope rescue training. This is to update them on new techniques and equipment and to ensure safe working.
Whilst Ben is in his probation he has certain areas of development that he needs to carry out on the Fire Station. Today he gave a lecture on Equality and Diversity, not only does this help Ben with his presentation skills it also reinforces to us the audience, the acceptable behaviours within the fire service ensuring that we treat each other appropriately and fairly.
This afternoon, we visited Chethams School of Music, this is historic building with a high property and life risk should a fire break out. For this reason we carry out familiarisation visits throughout the year to check on any new procedures that may have been adopted by the premises staff, also we are made aware of areas of significant value that we can concentrate our efforts on saving, where possible. We also check on location of water sources and best fire fighting entrances.
The only incident of the day was again and automatic fire alarm activation which turned out to be a false alarm.
24 July 2009 - Night shift.
My role for tonight is to drive the HP, along with newly qualified cage operator, Phil.
We started the evening with a lecture on the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team this is a small team of volunteers who, when required will deploy to collapsed structures in an attempt to locate any persons that may be missing and trapped in the debris.
HFRA's were carried out by both pumps, whilst Phil and myself did some HP practise. Before we all sat down for a fine fire service meal of Chilli. lovingly prepared by Rob H.
Phil didn't have to wait long for his first operational incident on the HP. We were requested to attend a shop fire on Swinton Hall Road Swinton. Salford and Agecroft fire crews were already in attendance. The fire had destroyed the roof. We were needed to remove slates from the roof to allow water to be applied to burning timbers and rafters.
25 July 2009 - Night shift
I took some floating leave on this shift to enable me to attend an RAF reunion.
30 July 2009 - Day shift
My role for today is driving the 2nd Fire Appliance
Today we received our new Gallet Fire Helmets, so as with all new equipment, we had a familiarisation session on using and adjusting them. It may seem strange but the helmets have to be adjusted quickly on route to Fires where BA may be required as the normal position does not fit over the face mask.
A lecture was then given by Rob H on ship fires.The afternoon saw us provide cover for Agecroft fire station whilst they took part in an exercise at HMP Forest Bank.
31 July 2009 - Day shift
Whilst the first appliance crew were undertaking Water rescue training. Myself and the crew of the second fire appliance had Road Traffic Collision training. The main bulk of the session was on motorway incidents. Safe appliance positioning for varying collisions on different parts of the carriagewayand other safety precautions.
We turned out 3 times in quick succession to automatic fire alarms, starting in the City Centre before moving on to Salford University and finally on to the Imperial war museum. again all were false alarms.
Tour 16-19 February 2009
I took floating leave on day shifts so my first tour back after our 18 days off began on nights. Each shift and in between my days off I have been studying in preparation for my promotion exams in March. I am taking the Institution of Fire Engineers intermediate exam which is necessary for promotion to the role of Crew Manager. The exam deals with various topics, including Maths, Hydraulics, Operations, Management, building construction and fire protection.
18 February 2009
Amber watch turned out just prior to change of shift to a fire on Cheetham Hill road, with a report that persons were trapped inside. On arrival they were faced with a fire in the front room of a commercial property and 2 ladies were trapped by the heat and smoke in an upstairs room. Breathing Aparatus teams including our probationer Dan who had taken over his shift early, entered the premises to fight the fire whilst other crews pitched a 9m ladder to the back of the building to effect the rescues of the 2 ladies. Once the fire was bought under control, the night crew from our watch was requested by brigade control to relieve Amber watch so they could go off shift. We carried on damping down the fire and assisting with the Fire investigation team. at the end of the incident 10BA 3 hosereels a Jet and 9m ladder had been used. The fire was believed to have started in an electrical unit.
19 February 2009
Dave has just passed his LGV course and in preparation for driving under emergency response conditions he will drive the Fire engine under normal road conditions to help familiarise himself. Whilst we were undertaking this training, We were called up by Brigade control to attend a 'Make Pumps 5' incident, this is an incident where the initial officer in charge of a fire deems it necessary to request further pumps to assist with manpower, water or more control. The incident was on Broughton Lane, Lower Broughton. On arrival we could see our Hydraulic platform with Martin and Rob already setting up. The ground and first floor of a shop were well alight. On arrival our Crew Manager Guy, liaised with the Incident Commander who tasked us with finding a main hydrant and to assist with pumping more water onto the fire ground. 2 jets, 4BA 9m Ladder and Hydraulic Platform were used to bring the fire under control and the cause is still under investigation.
Tour 24-28 February 2009
First day on and my duties are to drive the first fire appliance. There were no turnouts today. So we managed to carry out training and lectures uninterupted. in the afternoon we visited various premises to carry out Regulatory Reform Orders, this is where we visit premises to check they are complying to fire safety legislation.
2nd Day shift and driving the 2nd fire engine, we started the day with BA training at a high rise block of flats. The first appliance crew set the training up with the idea being that we would have no idea what we were attending too, and so treating it like a real incident. On arrival at the building, we were informed it was a flat fire on the 2nd floor and that there were people missing, Danny and Phil were BA crews who went in to search for casualties whilst I was outside running out hose and charging the water riser in the building. It is good to carry out training in real premises and situations.
In the afternoon we visited the CIS building in the centre of Manchester. Being a large building it is important for us to visit it frequently to get an idea of the problems that may arise should a fire break out.
Our only turnout was just before change of shift to a rubbish fire which was causing smoke to drift across a main road, a hosereel was used to extinguish the fire.
1st Night Shift
After the usual appliance checks and safety critical briefings. We did some training on the Major pump, which is the pump at the back of the fire engine used to pump large amounts of water onto fires. We went through it's principles of operation which gauges need to be kept an eye on and what their functions are.
Just after supper the appliances turned out to a report of a fire in the Old Nags head pub on Jacksons row, City centre.
On arrival they found smoke issuing from a second floor window and the occupier stated he had attempted to fight the fire with an extinguisher but the heat and flames were to much. Rob and Dan entered the premises in BA and found the office well alight, whilst this was going on our Watch Manager Warren was informed that people were sleeping in bedrooms and they couldn't confirm whether they were in or out. Warren made the incident 'Persons reported' and commited more BA teams as well as informing Dan and Rob. The heat and flames inside the building were hot enough to melt Rob's visor on his helmet. A thorough search of the building found that there was no one inside.
Once the fire was bought under control a check for firespread was carried out and it appeared the fire had spread into the roof space. I was on the HP this shift and was soon requested to attend the incident to remove roof tiles and fight any fire inside the roof space. I was the driver and was responsible for driving and positioning the HP along with the safety of Craig who was operating the cage and boom extensions. This was one of the first jobs for Dan since passing his BA assessment so on return to station he had a few photos taken for posterity.
In all the 6BA 2hrs 9m ladder and HP were used to bring the fire under control, there were thankfully no casualties. The fire is believed to have started in an electrical appliance in the office. Smoke detectors had actuated in the premises alerting all occupants to the presence of a fire situation.
2nd Night Shift
Friday night and due to Flexible operational resource deployment our station has only the First appliance and the HP on call. I was driver of the appliance.
Training was on Natural Gas installations and the inherent problems with fire and gas leaks. We then carried out a Home fire risk assessment (HFRA).
The first incident of the night was to a car fire on Ridgeway St Miles Platting. The car was well alight and Dan using Breathing aparatus and a hosereel extinguished the fire. Prompt action was necessary as the vehicle was next to other cars and a shed, we managed to protect these and prevent any damage to them. There were a large amount of youths in the area but they were very well behaved and so I gave them a short tour of the fire engine and explained what we were doing. Community relations is very important to the Fire service.
Just after midnight we were turned out to a report of a house fire with persons trapped inside the building. As we approached the street we could see flames issuing from what looked like the front of the property, Crews from Philips Park where already in attendance. Liaison with their Watch Manager informed us that the fire was confined to a bin shed at the front of the property and that the occupants had managed to make their way out of the house to safety. Hosereels and Breathing aparatus were used to control the fire and thankfully it was prevented from entering the house.
In all a very busy and satisfying couple of tours for Green watch
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