I really need to get out more often!

Last night I sat at home watching the Eurovision Song Contest (the first time in years – honest!) and almost enjoyed the spectacle. I’d made it though all 26 entries without falling asleep – an achievemnet worthy of some sort of trophy in itself!

The bouncy and far too happy Russian hosts had just opened the voting when my alerter got my vote by singing its own little tune.

Over at the station I ripped the tip sheet from the printer and saw we were off to a fire in some stables and there were probably horses trapped inside. With a crew of six we headed out off towards Blundeston not really sure of what we’d find.

Cheesey put Ladder 2 in the fend off position behind Ladder 1 and we set about getting our tank of water dumped into Ladder 1. A quick glance at the brick built stable block was enough to register that there were flames pouring out at each end and along the roof.

I then ran out a line of 45, using three lengths to ensure we’d got some spare to play with. Unfortunately we couldn’t put water through this line as the only water left was in Ladder 1 and this was supplying the hosereels.

A good source of water was found when we were told that a house about 150 metres away had got an outdoor swimming pool. Four firefighters set off with the LPP (Lightweight Portable Pump) followed by others carrying hard suction and lengths of 70 (myself included).

A hydrant had also been found, some distance away, outside Blundeston Prison. And by now the ERT (NT06) had arrived and dumped it’s tank into Ladder 2. So I went back to the branch on the 45 I’d run out ready for a drop or two of water. We were then pulled out to don BA as a large section of the roof was made of corrugated asbestos. And with plenty of these nasty little fibres flying about you don’t want to breathing too much of them in.

Steve ‘Dobbie’ Hollington (White Watch) and I got our sets on and returned to the front of the stables – Dobbie on the hosereel and me on the 45. Other teams were fighting the fire from the rear of the stables.

And that was pretty much all my involvement. I needed to get back to Lowestoft and was able to swap with Mel Buck who’d brought out tea and coffee in the station van. Unfortunately the crews didn’t get back to Normanshurst until well after 1am this morning.

So I’d missed all the voting on the Eurovision but was glad to hear that our entry had come a creditable fifth. And this is the last time I’ll admit to having watched the Eurovison Song Contest…

Forgot to mention that all the horses were safe.

Rumour has it that one of the horses has a serious smoking habit and dropped a lighted match while trying to light his roll up.

– IAN CARTER (www.accessiblewebsites.co.uk)