Fire fighters tackle flooding and multiple blazes

Tuesday 28 November 2017

Homes being flooded, a restaurant catching fire...and a cat needing a special oxygen mask. It was a busy Monday for Jersey's Fire Service.

The fire in the Mandarin Room on Gloucester Street was reported around 13:00. A total of 17 firefighters worked for several hours on what was described as a "significant and difficult to locate fire."

By the time the fire fighters managed to locate and fight the fire in the kitchen, it had spread to the extractor ducting and was moving through the floors above.They had to use the Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) to make sure the fire didn't spread to the roof and to gain access to the exit of the extractor shaft.

Pictured: 17 firefighters worked for several hours inside the Mandarin Room.

A man, who is believed to be in his 50s, received treatment at the hospital for smoke inhalation. The Fire Service say he had attempted ‘unsuccessfully’ to fight the fire but had used the wrong equipment, "which ultimately put themselves at risk and only accelerated the fire spread."

Gloucester Street was closed for several hours. 

Following the incident, Watch Commander Mark Walker urged everyone to be careful when tackling a fire. He said “We would like to remind everyone that if they are faced with a significant fire in the kitchen that they only attempt to extinguish it themselves if they are confident, trained to do so and have the correct firefighting equipment, the best option is to 'Get out, Get the fire service out and Stay out. Thankfully no one was seriously injured in this incident, but clearly the property has been significantly damaged and will not be open for some time."

Pictured: Firefighters worked on the roof of the property to gain access to the exit of the extractor shaft.

Shortly after the Mandarin Room blaze was put out, two fire engines attended another kitchen fire, this time in a flat in St Clement (pictured). Fire fighters were able to put the fire out quickly but the Incident Commander noticed smoke was not clearing as quickly as expected. They then realized the fire had spread to a void above the kitchen and reached the bathroom and hallway ceiling voids.

During the incident, firefighters rescued a cat, and revived him by using a dedicated pet oxygen mask. All occupants managed to escape the property safely and none required treatment. 

While a team of firefighters was still in St Clement working on the kitchen fire, the on-call section had to travel to several different locations affected by serious flooding, caused by a band of heavy rain. Most incidents were dealt with quickly but the fire fighters had to stay for a few hours at one property which had sustained severe damage to the entire ground floor.

They also assisted the Infrastructure Department with a tree that had fallen and blocked the road outside Granite Products in St. Peter's Valley. 

Pictured: Several properties were affected by sudden flooding on Monday evening.

The Fire Service is urging anyone who lives in an area that might be affected by flooding to consider getting equipment that could help prevent or deal with flooding. This includes sand bags,small pumps and wooden boards to block entrances. They are also encouraging islanders to regularly check the drains, so that rainwater can escape. 

Pictures: Jersey Fire & Rescue