Burning Down The House
Discussion
No, it's not about the song... nor about trying to make a fraudulant insurance claim, but something a little more sobering.
There I was, at a client’s when his wife goes to go to the bank. Hearing a smoke alarm she goes to investigate to find it is the woman next door (old lady – not all present and correct I fear). Of course my client and I (luckily both in civies, not fully suited and booted!!) go to help out. This poor lady is walking from kitchen to fire and back again trying to put it out inhaling god only knows how much smoke and CO etc. Anyway, we had to get her out the house. In the meantime, I got a couple of fire extinguishers out of my rally car (which I have been using for the last few days) and started to try to put it out. Fire brigade already called.
I tell you, I have never seen or smelt smoke like that. So thick you have to stay low to the floor to breath anything and even then each breath hurts like a b
h. The only thing that comes close is burning hair/flesh.
Anyway, it took them around 5 minutes to get to the house, but in that smoke with a couple of fire extinguishers and a hose seemed to take an eternity. Plus, to be fair, the measly water the hose was supplying was just keeping the flames down, rather than actually putting it out.
Anyway, fire brigade turned up – really good service from those guys, put it out, cleared the crap out and so on. Firstly, a congrats and thanks to them – really is impressive how they just venture into burning buildings on an everyday basis (to be fair with more protection than the jumper sleeve that I had!!!!). 4 engines turned up in the end, although only 1 was really needed, for a few mins the extra man power helped! 2 cop cars and 2 paramedic crews also turned up.
(this is where the service goes downhill)
My client, his wife and I were asked to give our details and a statement (which we did) and then were asked by the paramedics if we were ok. We said we were fine (felt it!) and they started to walk off, not even thinking about checking over the woman a) whose house it was and b) who spent probably 10 minutes in the smoke. I made some sort of comment like “are you going to go and not check out the lady over there who was in the smoke for ages?” and they replied “oh ok I guess”. Hmmm
Anyway, in the end they went and asked her if she was ok, but apparently she is stubborn and said shes fine and so they buggered off. Then the police left shortly followed by the fire fighters. Now, the F.F.s I understand leaving – they have done their job, but surely someone should have tried to help the old lady sort out her place or sort something out? EVEN if it was a PCSO. Ok, she had good neighbours that stayed with her and looked after her until her daughter turned up around 30 mins later, but if she didn’t have good friends, or family or whatever, what would have happened? Surely someone should have stuck with her to ensure she was ok??
Anyways not a lot of point me posting this here other than to say cheers to the fire fighters who responded so quickly
!!
Cheers
The Moose
There I was, at a client’s when his wife goes to go to the bank. Hearing a smoke alarm she goes to investigate to find it is the woman next door (old lady – not all present and correct I fear). Of course my client and I (luckily both in civies, not fully suited and booted!!) go to help out. This poor lady is walking from kitchen to fire and back again trying to put it out inhaling god only knows how much smoke and CO etc. Anyway, we had to get her out the house. In the meantime, I got a couple of fire extinguishers out of my rally car (which I have been using for the last few days) and started to try to put it out. Fire brigade already called.
I tell you, I have never seen or smelt smoke like that. So thick you have to stay low to the floor to breath anything and even then each breath hurts like a b
h. The only thing that comes close is burning hair/flesh.Anyway, it took them around 5 minutes to get to the house, but in that smoke with a couple of fire extinguishers and a hose seemed to take an eternity. Plus, to be fair, the measly water the hose was supplying was just keeping the flames down, rather than actually putting it out.
Anyway, fire brigade turned up – really good service from those guys, put it out, cleared the crap out and so on. Firstly, a congrats and thanks to them – really is impressive how they just venture into burning buildings on an everyday basis (to be fair with more protection than the jumper sleeve that I had!!!!). 4 engines turned up in the end, although only 1 was really needed, for a few mins the extra man power helped! 2 cop cars and 2 paramedic crews also turned up.
(this is where the service goes downhill)
My client, his wife and I were asked to give our details and a statement (which we did) and then were asked by the paramedics if we were ok. We said we were fine (felt it!) and they started to walk off, not even thinking about checking over the woman a) whose house it was and b) who spent probably 10 minutes in the smoke. I made some sort of comment like “are you going to go and not check out the lady over there who was in the smoke for ages?” and they replied “oh ok I guess”. Hmmm
Anyway, in the end they went and asked her if she was ok, but apparently she is stubborn and said shes fine and so they buggered off. Then the police left shortly followed by the fire fighters. Now, the F.F.s I understand leaving – they have done their job, but surely someone should have tried to help the old lady sort out her place or sort something out? EVEN if it was a PCSO. Ok, she had good neighbours that stayed with her and looked after her until her daughter turned up around 30 mins later, but if she didn’t have good friends, or family or whatever, what would have happened? Surely someone should have stuck with her to ensure she was ok??
Anyways not a lot of point me posting this here other than to say cheers to the fire fighters who responded so quickly
!!Cheers
The Moose
Emergency services first priority is just that - responding to stuff. I see where you're coming from, but once the immediate risk is over you can't blame them for leaving to get ready for the next problem.
There isn't any particular occupation of 'babysitter to the public.'
That said, if the neighbours hadn't stayed there some sort of official presence (even something like a PCSO as you suggest) should really be the minimum. Its not technically anyones job, but some common sense should be applied.
When friends or family are there though they're invariably the best option.
There isn't any particular occupation of 'babysitter to the public.'
That said, if the neighbours hadn't stayed there some sort of official presence (even something like a PCSO as you suggest) should really be the minimum. Its not technically anyones job, but some common sense should be applied.
When friends or family are there though they're invariably the best option.
tenohfive said:
Emergency services first priority is just that - responding to stuff. I see where you're coming from, but once the immediate risk is over you can't blame them for leaving to get ready for the next problem.
There isn't any particular occupation of 'babysitter to the public.'
That said, if the neighbours hadn't stayed there some sort of official presence (even something like a PCSO as you suggest) should really be the minimum. Its not technically anyones job, but some common sense should be applied.
When friends or family are there though they're invariably the best option.
I tend to agree on that, and if it was, for example myself, I could sort it out but an old lady who like I said isn't necessarily all with it then I would recon no. Like you said, and I totally agree, babysitting the public isn't exactly one of their jobs, but a PCSO could be dispatched...although I guess that would mean they would actually do something useful!! ;-)There isn't any particular occupation of 'babysitter to the public.'
That said, if the neighbours hadn't stayed there some sort of official presence (even something like a PCSO as you suggest) should really be the minimum. Its not technically anyones job, but some common sense should be applied.
When friends or family are there though they're invariably the best option.
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