News

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FIREFIGHTERS KILLED AT RUSSIAN OIL DEPOT FIRE  (14/01)

Ukrainian drones have successfully attacked and started a very serious fire at an oil depot near the city of Engels in Russia. In the struggle to contain and extinguish the blaze it is known that so far two fire fighters have been killed. It is believed that the fuel that is burning is some of that supplied to a nearby airfield which is the base for Putin’s nuclear bombers
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CALIFORNIA FIRES OUT OF CONTROL  (13/01)
Not enough firefighters and the unusually high winds grounds water bomber aircraft. Thousands forced to evacuate very expensive homes and contents.In addition to houses a large number of business premises have been totally destroyed and also some schools (Photos by Yahoo News)

DEATH OF FRED KEMP  (22/12)

We regret to announce the death of Fred Kemp. The funeral was held at Salisbury Crematorium on Tuesday 14th January 2024. Afterwards at a celebration of Fred’s life at Riverside Hotel, Harnham.

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DORIS (‘Dimps’) RICHARDS 100th BIRTHDAY  (22/12)

WRFA member, Doris Richards, became 100 years old on 15th November, the first member of this association to achieve such a great age. The photo is of Doris when she was 19. She is now blind and living in an apartment in Amesbury with carers visiting her daily. Paul Jaycock has kept in close touch with Doris and this association provided a bouquet of highly scented blooms on the birthday with a box of chocolates too. A card of congratulations was also sent. Warmest congratulations to ‘Dimps’ are sent with an assurance of our continued support.

HAROLD PORTER 100TH BIRTHDAY  (22/12)

Harold Porter OBE, QFSM, FIFireE, became 100 on 19th December. Harold is a retired CFO of Cumbria and served as one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Fire Services in the Home Office before retiring completely to a retirement village In Tetbury. Harold is a WRFA member. A party was arranged to mark the special day by his daughter and WRFA was represented by John Craig who presented a framed picture, A pump and crew from Chippenham also attended the party with Mike Grimshawm (WRFA honorary member) in charge. We hope Harold with have more years yet in membership.

LETHAL CLADDING ON BUILDINGS YET TO BE FOUND  (02/12)

Speaking on BBC TV News on 2nd December the Building Safety Minister, Alex Norris MP, gave information on the Government’s assessment of the threat still posed by the external building cladding that burns. The Minister reported that there are still many high rise buildings midway through having the external cladding removed and his department would take robust action to hasten the completion of the work. Even more concerning was the Minister’s statement that the Government believes there are between 4,000 and 7,000 buildings that have yet to be identified as needing the dangerous cladding removed. The Government hopes to have all the affected buildings made safe by the end of 2039

NEW CFO APPOINTED  (08/11)

The Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Authority has announced its decision to appoint Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole to succeed Ben Ansell as the head of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service with effect from 1st January 2025. Mr Cole is currently serving as ACFO in Dorset & Wiltshire FRS where he has served the vast majority of his career.