Heat is on to support Hunstanton firefighters
AN APPEAL for more volunteers to join the fire service has been launched after a serious fire in Hunstanton left people banging on the town’s fire station door for help while crews came from Lynn and Sandringham.
The blaze happened at a property in Austin Street on February 1 – and by the time crews arrived it had already caused severe damage to the garage and an upstairs bedroom.
Kelvin Waplington, 47, of Thornham, who saw the blaze, said: “The fire station was no more than 300 yards from the fire and if Hunstanton had been able to attend it, the damage would have been far less severe. Time is the one thing that cannot be wasted in the case of a fire; in that time a small fire can turn into a dangerous blaze.
Mike McCarthy, deputy chief fire officer for Norfolk, said: “It is right that we had firefighters at Hunstanton fire station but at that point we could not raise a minimum crew of four.
“Less than four and we could be faced with a situation where the fire crew don’t have the range of skills or numbers required to deal with a dangerous situation and could imperil both themselves and those they may have been sent to save.
“We don’t have a lack of retained firefighters but we do have an issue when it comes to covering certain areas at certain times, particularly during the working day.
“We are looking to recruit members of the community who are able to provide valuable cover during normal working hours.”
Mr Waplington added: “I understand that people’s time is precious, but something has got to be done to ease the problem.
“Even if it’s just one life saved, it’s been worthwhile.”
Norfolk fire service will be holding a recruitment information day this Saturday at Hunstanton fire station, in King’s Lynn Road, Hunstanton.
There will be members of Hunstanton fire crew and a retained support officer on hand to answer questions.
It will run from 10am-1pm and is looking to recruit new retained firefighters – who live or work no more than five minutes from the station – to
fill vacancies at several stations in West Norfolk including Heacham, Hunstanton and Sandringham.
The day is also open for employers who may be able to allow staff to respond and would like to understand the impact on business.
For further details, visit www.norfolkfireservice.co.uk or call retained support officer Ryan Hastings on 01603 810351 or 07788 184405.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Thursday 24 May 2012
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Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
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