Listen to a real 999 emergency call
Our Control take emergency 999 calls everyday. As well as sending fire engines to an emergency, they give vital survival advice to the person at the other end of the line and help to keep them calm prior to emergency crews arriving. On 23rd January 2008 just after midnight, one of our Control Operators took a call from an 11 year old girl trapped in a house fire with her brother and mother in Great Lever, Bolton.
Background to the call
The house fire started when a pan of food was left unattended on the cooker. In the house at the time was a woman and two children, the 11 year old girl and her 10 year old brother. The woman went downstairs to investigate when the smoke alarm went off and made her way through the smoke to the kitchen and saw that the pan was glowing red hot. The woman threw a cloth onto the pan but this caught fire and set fire to the kitchen.
In a state of panic and shock, the woman ran upstairs and made sure that her and both the children were together in one bedroom and closed the door. The 11 year old girl remembered advice they had received from the fire service during a home fire risk assessment that had been carried out some time ago and calmly rang the fire service. The girl also used towels to block the gap at the bottom of the bedroom door to prevent the smoke from entering the bedroom.
Whilst en route to the fire, firefighters were receiving vital information about the family’s location from fire service control which had been passed by the girl who was talking to the control operator all the way through the ordeal.
When fire crews from Bolton Central and Farnworth arrived at the scene the children’s father was just entering the house. Firefighters prevented the father from going upstairs and were able to locate the rest of the family in the bedroom and lead them to safety, whilst another fire crew dealt with the fire.
Firefighters used two hose lines, four breathing apparatus sets and a high pressure fan to clear the smoke from the house. All four occupants of the house were taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution suffering from the effects of smoke.
This incident highlights the benefit of having a fire escape plan prepared and working smoke alarms fitted in the home.
Listen to the call
Get a real insight into the fantastic work our Control Operators do everyday by listening to the six minute call by clicking on the link below. The start of the call has been edited to protect the privacy of the family. Please be advised that some people may find the call distressing to listen to in places. You can also read a transcript of the call.
Listen to the house fire emergency 999 call (Windows Media Audio File 2.83 MB)