Whilst maintenance work was being conducted on one of the UK’s nuclear submarines in Devonport dockyard a fire started which caused the boat to be evacuated.

The Royal Navy reported that a fire started after welding work was being completes on the outside of the Trafalgar class submarine and around 55 people had to be evacuated. A fire crew managed to contain the fire between protective blankets and extinguished it within 5 minutes.

An investigation by the Royal Navy is now underway into the incident but they have reported that no one was injured and that HMS Torbay was not damaged.

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “Before the fire service arrived, the fire was put out by a member of the Royal Navy crew in response to an alert by the duty watch.

“In accordance with normal procedure, the submarine was evacuated of crew and contractor workers, numbering about 55.

“They later returned to the submarine after the fire service gave the all-clear having checked the area for further risk of fire.

“The early warning system on board and on-going training of the crew and contractors restricted the fire to a very small event.”

Fire crews raced into the dockyard where workers initially thought it was just a drill. The Royal Navy aims to learn lessons from the incident for future use.

HMS Torbay is a Trafalgar class attack submarine and one of five that are currently on active service with the Royal Navy. Their role is to protect the UK by hunting down enemy nuclear submarines and surface ships. Other roles include covert surveillance of enemy forces and inshore reconnaissance of installations and landing beaches. Their nuclear power plant generates enough electricity to power a town the size of Swindon.

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A 200 meter exclusion zone has been set up around the Adderley Road Industrial Estate after a fire broke out involving gas cylinders stored at the site.

Nearby businesses have now been evacuated from the Shropshire industrial park as a safety precaution in case the cylinders explode.

The Shropshire Fire Service has reported that three fire crews are on site and are attempting to contain the fire which involves cylinders containing oxygen and acetylene. Thankfully there are no reports of injuries.

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A massive explosion has rocked a fertiliser plant in Waco, Texas killing an unknown number of people and injuring countless others.

The fire is still raging and many buildings as well as homes have been destroyed in the blast and following fires which were described to be like a nuclear bomb going off. Many people are still missing including fire-fighters who have been bravely fighting the inferno.

The cause of the explosion is currently unknown but a possibility is that ammonia may be the cause of the blast. According to reports there was around 54,000 tonnes of anhydrous ammonia at the site.

A local resident caught the explosion on film.

It is believed that there is no more risk of explosions according to Dean Wilson of the Texas Department of Public Safety. He also confirmed that house to house searches are currently underway to try and find any people who are still missing or trapped.

The town has now been evacuated too as a precautionary measure.

The blast occurred whilst fire fighters were tackling the blaze at the plant and some of them are amongst the injured and missing.

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A house fire that started around 5am today in Cateswell Road, Springfield near Birmingham has sadly claimed the life of a woman and injured five other people.

The blaze is reported to have spread quickly through the house as fire fighters were alerted and rushed to the scene of the incident. The woman is believed to be in her 50’s and was confirmed as dead at the scene by emergency crews.

A teenage girl has sustained 70% burns according to the ambulance service too. Three others were treated for injuries and a 26 year old woman has suffered burns. The teenager who suffered 70% burns has been rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The 26 year old was reported to have suffered 50% burns by the ambulance service.

It is unclear how the fire actually started but an investigation is now under way by the fire and rescue service. They managed to bring the fire under control by 6.20am but nearby homes had to be evacuated.

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Burnt out washing machine

A fire broke out in the kitchen of a house in Plymouth on Sunday at around 4.30pm and the fire service was alerted. The house is located on Fullarton Road and when the fire brigade arrived they rescued three people as well as 52 pets from the burning property.

The elderly couple who lived there were treated for the effects of smoke inhalation at Derriford Hospital and another woman at the premises escaped unhurt.

The fire crews from Devon and Somerset Fire and rescue had to call in the RSPCA to help care of the families 52 pets temporarily which included dogs, cats and rabbits.

Access to the house while it burned was difficult according to the fire service due to the large amount of pet food and related products in the property which hindered fire fighters.

One of the first things required when evaluating your home fire safety is to set up an escape route and ensure this is kept clear at all times. It is wise to also have a secondary escape route planned in case the fire blocks or makes using the first one difficult.

Escape routes should also be practised by everyone living in the property so that you know what to do in the event of a fire. Remember to get out and call the fire brigade on 999 immediately to come and tackle the blaze.

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A fire which broke out at a zoo in West Lothian has been reported as killing a large number of the reptiles housed there.

Five Sisters Zoo in Polbeth, West Calder had a fire break out at around 3.50am today in the reptile house and the Scottish Fire and Rescue service attend the scene quickly, managing to contain the fire and stop it from spreading to other nearby enclosures. Sadly by this time a lot of the reptiles had perished in the blaze.

Thankfully it is believed that no people were hurt in the fire although the fire brigade did manage to rescue an otter as well as a pair of dwarf crocodiles.

When the fire alarm sounded the owners of the zoo rushed to the reptile house to find it ablaze. The reptile house is a corrugated iron building housing a large collection of animals.

Lesley Cooper from the zoo said a substantial number of reptiles had died as well as insects too. She continued “The reptile house is a shell and I don’t think there is anything that has survived the blaze.

“It was obviously extremely ferocious and everything has perished that was in the reptile house.

“Otters and meerkats were housed near to the blaze and the crocodiles. We do know that the crocodiles have survived; they were submerged in water in their pond.

“Unfortunately one otter died but the other one, we hope, will survive. It is under supervision as we speak.”

It is not currently clear what caused the fire but the fire service is now conducting an investigation to see what happened. In order to bring the fire under control and finally extinguish it, eleven fire engines were needed as well as their crews.

Roads nearby are closed while the scene is damped down and made safe.

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After a house fire in east London two people have been taken to hospital and a further four people are reported as missing.

The fire broke out at a property in Romford Road, Forest Gate and fire fighters rescued one of the occupants from the roof whilst another man escaped before the emergency services arrived at the scene of the blaze.

London Fire Brigade spokesman Daniel Alie, who was at the scene, said: “The fire caused severe damage to the house and the roof was destroyed. Crews rescued a man from the rear of the house using a ladder.

The building was severely damaged in the fire with the roof being totally destroyed and the ground and first floors taking extensive fire damage. As far as the fire service are concerned, the building was believed to be disused.

The fire started at around 3.15am today and the fire service was quickly alerted with eight fire engines arriving to tackle the house fire after the building was totally engulfed in flames.

Two men were treated at the scene by the ambulance service before being taken to hospital for further medical attention.

An investigation by police and the fire service is now under way to determine the cause of the fire.

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The Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called out to a blaze involving 250 mattresses at a furniture store on Moorland Road in Burslem this morning at 4.30am. They believe the fire was started deliberately.

The mattresses were stacked up in a yard which is next to a UK Clearing House warehouse in Stoke-on-Trent and thankfully no one was injured and the building was not damaged in the fire.

There is now an investigation into the arson attack and a spokesman for the fire service said, “The owners were lucky that the building did not catch fire and it could’ve easily spread to surrounding businesses so we’re urging local firms to make sure external premises are free from rubbish and materials.”

The post Burslem Mattress Fire Started Deliberately appeared first on A2Z Fire Safety News Blog.

Siddock Ponds nature reserve in Cumbria has been severely damaged by fire and it is feared that up to a third of it may have been destroyed in the blaze.

The nature reserve which is situated on the outskirts of Workington is home to many different breeds of birds and is an area that is visited by migrating birds such as bitterns each year. The fire started on Tuesday evening and is said to have quickly spread along reed beds as the blaze took hold.

As yet the full extent of the damage can only be guessed at but the fire brigade have managed to bring it under control by pumping water from nearby ponds in order to extinguisher the fires.

The nature reserve is an area of high scientific interest as it homes more than 155 different species of waterfowl as well as other birds thanks to its grasslands and reed beds. The types of birds present include mute swans, sedge warblers, redshanks and whitethroats.

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It has been only a week since the tragic deaths of Kelly Webster and her 10 year old daughter Lauren Thornton from carbon monoxide poisoning whilst holidaying on a boat on Lake Windermere. It has emerged that another family were taken to hospital on Saturday night with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning whilst staying on a boat on Windermere.

They were staying on a friend’s boat when the woman and her two children began to feel unwell on Saturday night. Initial investigations indicate that the poisoning was probably caused by leaving the engine running whilst the canopy was closed according to the police.

Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service’s Mark Roach said: “Please remember carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas given off by all appliances burning fossil fuels such as gas, coal, wood or oil, if they’re not working properly or in an enclosed space.

“Incidents can prove fatal and even low levels can cause lasting damage to your health.

“Carbon monoxide has no taste, smell or colour. We strongly recommend that you fit an audible carbon monoxide alarm in your home and take one on holiday.”

Thankfully the woman and her children did not die and were later released after hospital treatment. Whether you are holidaying on a boat, in a caravan, a tent or staying in a villa or hotel, take a portable carbon monoxide alarm along with you.

It should be as important a piece of holiday kit as sun block or passports. They are cheap to buy, battery operated and can be placed free standing. Accidents and tragedies involving carbon monoxide can be prevented, even on holiday.

Photo by byrion on Flickr. Some rights reserved

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