Busy weekend for our Service with hundreds of calls into our control room
Our Service has had one of its busiest weekends in recent years, with our control room dealing with hundreds of calls and firefighters and crews responding to many incidents across the county.
Number of calls into our control room:
Friday - 316
Saturday - 419
Sunday - 341
On the same weekend last year:
Friday - 91
Saturday - 65
Sunday - 63
Group Manager Dan Partridge said: “It was busy but we responded to every emergency call. We are exceptionally proud of the work of our team - firefighters, control room staff and our support staff who worked this weekend, changing their plans to ensure the county was safe.
“Please help us to help you by following our safety messages as the hot and dry conditions continue. Please no bonfires, barbecues and ensure cigarettes are put out properly.
“We are expecting rain and thunderstorms in the coming days so we could experience flooding and we are prepared for that. But again please follow our safety advice and don’t drive into flood water, be prepared and plan your journeys.”
Flooding advice:
While we work with partner agencies to help during floods, we can only respond to incidents when there is a risk to life.
We’d ask drivers not to risk driving through floodwater and instead to turn around and find another route.
For home owners, we have this advice for residents whose homes are being affected by floodwater, if and only if it is safe to do so:
- Ensure your external drains are clear of debris
- Take everything off the ground to prevent damage
- Turn electrics off and if you cannot do this safely, call an electrician
Advice to follow:
- Download the what3words app to help you find, share and save your precise location if you need help from the emergency services while you're out.
- Remember, only call 999 if there is a risk to life
- Check your car regularly to make sure it’s safe to drive - this includes tyres, oil levels and water
- Always prepare for your journey by checking weather updates and road closures before leaving
- Never drive while under the influence of drink or drugs or while using a mobile phone
- Always wear a seatbelt
- Take it slower on the roads in wet weather and leave a larger braking distance between cars
- Never drive into flood water
15 August 2022