Firefighter blog

Firefighter Keiran Gillam from Green Watch at Manchester Central Fire Station

What’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. 

Tour 12th – 15th April – Rob, the probationer gets more practice with pump operation, we spend a day at the Metrolink depot training with the engineers and we attend a flat fire… 
Our probationer Rob had highlighted that he needed a bit more practice with pump operation. The pump is used by an appliance (fire engine) to lift or pump water onto a fire. On Saturday, we spent the morning at Potato Wharf in Castlefield training on various pumping methods and getting Rob to practice controlling the water pressure and overcoming problems.
 
Sunday was another full day of training. With the city centre having a major Metrolink network, we do get a lot of incidents involving the trams such as accidents with vehicles and people falling under the trams. We spent the day at the main Metrolink depot, training with their engineers on how to tackle different incidents involving the trams. We looked at what the best equipment was to use in different circumstances and also at  electrical isolation, component parts and safe areas for lifting the trams.

On nights we attended a flat fire at Landos Court in Collyhurst. The occupier of the flat, a 65 year old man, was cooking his evening meal on the grill pan. He left it unattended and forgot about it. Thankfully, he had a smoke alarm to alert him to the problem. However, he ended up having to be treated for smoke inhalation because he attempted to put the fire out himself. We advise you not to attempt to put out a fire yourself because there is the potential that you will be overcome with smoke or get burnt from the hot fat from a chip pan when it reacts with water and the fire intensifies.

Hydraulic Platform at the warehouse blaze

Tour 4th - 7th April – we go to a large warehouse blaze at Trafford park taking over 50 firefighters to tackle it…  
On Saturday I was in charge of the Hydraulic Platform (HP) and at 11:30 we were called along with our second appliance (fire engine) to a six pump (six fire engines) and later ten pump fire at Trafford Park. The number of appliances is dictated by the first officer in attendance at the incident, he will increase the number of pumps for many reasons such as manpower, breathing apparatus teams, appliances to pump water or bring equipment.

On arrival we were faced with a fire issuing from the roof of a storage warehouse. Being in charge of the HP my job was to operate the cage. I had Rob alongside me to direct the water onto the fire, whilst I manoeuvred the HP.

Being a storage facility for furniture and personal effects, all items were highly flammable and all stored in what was basically a massive tin box. The fire soon spread throughout the building with intense heat and it was very difficult to get the platform close to the fire. The ground crews worked hard to get water to the incident and protect vehicles parked next to the building. After only a short while, the fire became really intense. We did our best to contain the fire, whilst other crews directed efforts on wetting the surrounding buildings to protect them.
 
The fire took in excess of five hours to bring totally under control and begin to extinguish. By this time the building and contents were unrecognisable. It took  a total of three days to totally extinguish all the burning embers - this is because certain areas are still protected by parts of the roof or structure so water cannot be directed in and it's still in danger of collapse so crews cannot be sent in either. 

Tour 29th - 30th March – Keiran and his watch carry out equipment tests, attend a lift rescue and have stones thrown at them and are verbally abused as they attempt to put out a fire in Collyhurst… 
I've only worked the night shifts this tour, due to the fact that I took two days floating leave so that I could go away with my family to Centre Parcs in Penrith.
 
We carried out the usual fire safety inspections, familiarisation visits and home fire risk assessments on this tour as well as standard tests. Standard tests involve each piece of equipment being checked once a week and tested to ensure it is in full working order. This includes operating the equipment, cleaning it, ensuring equipment that requires it is fully fuelled etc. These tests are done every night alternating between each of the two fire engines and its equipment.

Incidents that occurred this tour included a lift rescue at the NCP car park on Whitworth Street, a car fire in Cheetham Hill and several rubbish fires.

Also, in Collyhurst when we went out to a fire, we were met by verbal abuse from several youths for no apparent reason. They were also threatening to start more fires. Later, we were turned out again to the same area to be met by the same youths, this time they were a bit further away but still shouting verbal abuse and then starting to throw stones. We requested the assistance of the Police. The Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Act 2006 came into force last year making it an offence to obstruct or hinder certain emergency workers who are responding to emergency circumstances. As a result, the Police arrived immediately and needless to say the youths did not hang around.  This is the first time in five years I have experienced this. We usually have a very good relationship with the young people in Collyhurst.  I think the good relationship is partly down to our fire safety quiz Learn Not To Burn that we deliver every year to year five children.

Tour 19th - 22nd March – We inspect businesses for fire safety, put out a car fire in Cheetham Hill, carry out line rescue training and I turn 32…
As part of our job, we have to identify potential risks, such as large buildings, in our station area and carry out familiarisation inspections. This enables us, should there be a fire, to know where water supplies are, access and exit the buildings, have a likely refuges for casualties and find out where the particular areas are that we should try to save first.  This is especially the case for buildings such as the John Rylands University Library where there are items of historic importance.

This tour of duty, we also carried out inspections on licenced and public buildings to ensure they are adhering to fire safety practises which include no locked or blocked fire exits. Also any extinguishers have been checked and up-to-date and we have to make sure that the building is not filled beyond its safe capacity.

We did some training at Bogart Hole Clough in Blackley. We simulated an incident in which a casualty had fallen down an embankment and had spinal injuries. We used line rescue equipment, troll stretchers and the quad pod (a hand winding winch system) to rescue the casualty.
 
The main incident of note was a car fire in Cheetham Hill. A car had been maliciously set on fire and this had in turn had set fire to the front door and window of a house and ruptured a gas main. Thankfully the fire didn't get into the house and the occupants were unharmed. The fire was put out by our probationer Rob (or Eddie as we call him due to his striking resemblance to Eddie Munster). He wore breathing apparatus for his own protection and used a hose reel.

Also, on 16th March, I celebrated my 32nd birthday!
 
8th - 9th March – An 11 year old boy burns himself playing with fire, Blue Watch raise over £3,000 for charity and we carry out breathing apparatus training…
It was my turn again to carry out rostered reserve shifts. This time I was on nights and unfortunately called in for both. I spent the first night at Oldham with Amber Watch. This is the first time in five years I have been to this station and I managed to catch up with one of my colleagues from my training course. The new probationer Lee gave us all a lecture on acetylene. Acetylene is best known for being used in welding, and if involved in fire is very explosive, an area of 200m has to be evacuated for 25 hours such is the danger of this substance.

We had one incident where an 11 year old boy who was playing with fire in his bedroom severely burnt his hands.  It could have been far worse. We have offered help on our FACE (fire awareness child education) scheme as this is aimed at teaching children the dangers and consequences of playing with fire. Find out more about our children and young people schemes.
 
Inbetween night shifts, I assisted Blue Watch with their Firefighter Experience Day at Manchester Arndale Centre for under 16s. The day went very well with even adults not being able to resist the temptation to have a go. We raised a fantastic £3,200 in two days for The Fire Fighters Charity. Thanks to all those who came along and gave us their support.
 
The second night was at Red Watch at Manchester Central. We anticipated a busy night due to the severe weather that was expected but fortunately it by passed us.
 
Back on shift with Green Watch again and we carried out a day of breathing apparatus (BA) training at our training school. This is the highlight of training for many firefighters as it's the only time we can actually replicate realistic fire conditions in a specially set up BA hazard.  We had to search for and locate a casualty whilst fighting through heavy smoke and intense heat (temperatures reached in excess of 150 degrees centigrade).
 
The first night went without incident. On my second night I was detached to cover crewing short falls (short staffed due to illness etc) at Philips Park Fire Station. The early part of the evening saw us attend four rubbish/skip fires. After midnight we were sent twice to Ashton-Under-Lyne Fire Station to cover their area whilst they were engaged at other incidents. The first time, the crew from Ashton attended a Persons Reported (this is a fire where it is reported a person/s is trapped) in Dunkenfield. The crew rescued a man and a woman from their house. The cause of the fire was cooking left unattended. They had no smoke alarms either! Luckily the crews got to them in time and although they were unconscious, fire and ambulance crews managed to revive them. The importance of having a working smoke alarm cannot be stressed enough!

The second time Ashton were at an allotment were someone had maliciously set fire to several sheds. Read more about arson.

Tour 3rd - 6th March – We get a new Watch Manager and attend fires at a shop, conservatory and student accommodation...
Whilst I was on my 18 days off, our temporary Watch Manager Ian was promoted to permanent Watch Manager on Red Watch so we have a new Watch Manager, Warren. Also our Crew Manager Martin was promoted to Watch Manager at our Training School in Thompson Street.

This tour has been about Warren getting a feel for us as a watch. Training has been basic but important - ladder drills, pump operating and even knots and lines.

On Monday, neighbouring station Philips Park came to do some Hydraulic Platform (HP) training. Not every station has a HP, so other crews like to come and familiarise themselves with the appliance. As they may need to request it at an incident and need to know its capabilities also on some occasions firefighters is required to assist the operator in the cage with directing water.
 
Incidents have been steady, we have had two car fires both on separate night shifts but at same location in the Palace theatre car park. Neither were malicious and both were caused by engine faults.

We had a few rubbish fires and attended a fire in a conservatory that was well alight in Cheetham Hill. We used two hosereels and two breathing apparatus to extinguish it.

We also went out to a shop fire on Mossley Street. A fire had been caused by an extractor fan in the toilet area. However, due to a bout of good fortune the fire melted a toilet cistern above it which leaked water and put the fire out for us. We also had a kitchen heater fire at student accommodation which spread into the cavity wall behind.

Thankfully the only casualty of all these incidents was a poor conservatory.

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