Spent fireworks put in bin causes fire at home in Telford
Firefighters last night attended a fire in Telford caused by spent fireworks put into a recycle bin, which could have resulted in a family’s home being destroyed.
The Service received a call to the fire in Donnington at just before 8pm last night.
The first fire engine arrived within 10 minutes and the crew found a significant fire, involving a large recycle bin, which was up against the side of the house and threatening to set fire to the roof. Although the guttering and downpipe were destroyed on the outside of the house, the fire was prevented from progressing into the roof.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, Area Manager Andy Johnson said: “The attending crews quickly dealt with the fire and used thermal imaging cameras to make sure that there was no fire in the roof of the property. Upon speaking to the occupiers it became evident that they had placed the remains of some fireworks, which they had set off in their back garden, into their recycle bin believing them to be fully extinguished. Unfortunately, about an hour later the family smelt smoke in their house which alerted them to the significant fire that was threatening their home.”
Mr Johnson asked everyone to very careful when they dispose of their fireworks.
“Whilst they may feel cold to the touch on the outside, they may still be smouldering inside.” He advises people to leave the remains of any fireworks in a bucket of water overnight and then dispose of them the following day. He pointed out that “Even better advice would be for everyone to go to properly organised events, where the organisers take responsibility for the safe disposal of the fireworks.”
This incident was just one of 16 very varied incidents that Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has dealt with over the last 24 hours. As is the case across the whole of England, the Service is in the middle of a four day strike by the Fire Brigades Union, which has meant that it is relying on its contingency plans to ensure that the communities of Shropshire are protected.
Mr Johnson stated “Over the last 24 hours the Service has been called upon to deal with a hazardous materials incident, a barn fire, two house fires, a potential gas leak, providing assistance to the ambulance service with a collapsed casualty and numerous bonfires that were threatening people’s property.
"Our contingency plans have certainly been tested over the last 24 hours and I am pleased to report that, due to the sterling efforts of our On-call firefighters, officers who were prepared to come in off duty and our local Fire Control ensuring our resources were in the right place at the right time, the Service demonstrated that it was able to meet the challenge.”
The public are reminded to be extra vigilant during the remainder of the strike period, which finishes at 6pm on Tuesday.
