“Structure fire…Herald Island…person’s reported...Greenhithe 841 responding to incident…”

was the message we could hear coming through the radio as the truck was taking us to the incident.  But for those in pyjamas standing outside their home in the middle of the night, the message was of another nature.  It was about a loved one not being accounted for!  Smoke alarms?  Escape plans?  A family of five was lucky to escape a house fire as their home lacked smoke alarms.  The fire appeared to have started from an electrical fault caused by a down light?  Much of the downstairs area suffered significant damage and four appliances were needed to put out the blaze.  The irony of it was that this house fire occurred within 24 hours of switching to daylight savings that is exactly when the Fire Service always urges people to install or check their smoke alarms.  Don’t risk your life or that of those you love.  Don’t take the chance of losing your house and your personal belongings.

The tsunami alert in response to the Samoan’s earthquake was a time to test our preparedness to emergencies.  Like in the event of a house fire, the question relates to preparedness…are we prepared?  In Emergency Management Planning we talk about the ‘7R’s’: Reduction – Readiness – Response – Relief – Recover – Restore – Review.  Each and every one of us can play a major role in the first ‘3R’s’ until relief arrives by avoiding unwise fire behaviours (Reduction), practicing escape plans or preparing emergency tool kits (Readiness), and acting appropriately “get down, get low, get out” (Response).  Don’t forget the importance of preparedness and resilience when everything is fine.

Costumes, masks, beards, wigs safety: When purchasing look for the label "flame resistant."  Although this label does not mean these items won't catch fire, it does indicate the items will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.

Car safety: When driving around the Village, all motorists should drive slowly, be on the alert for excited youngsters whose vision may be obscured by masks, darting out into traffic etc.

If to a spooky party you would really like to go, on Halloween then hasten to the Fire Station as this year our ghostly fire fighters have planned a HAUNTED STATION…from 5pm on Sat 31^st…all welcome…

In brigade news this month, congratulations to Pinakin and Bhavika on the arrival of another addition to their family…a beautiful baby girl.

And more good news…we’re selling FIREWOOD again this summer to raise funds for a Brigade van…more details to follow about that but in the meantime, if you’d like to purchase split wood for next winter, please call the Station and leave a message and we’ll get back to you ASAP (413 9847).  This year we’re selling gum and pine, prices as follows:

Gum – delivered wet before Xmas ($120 per cubic metre), delivered dry in April ($130 per cubic metre)

Pine – delivered wet before Xmas ($80 per cubic metre), delivered dry in April ($90 per cubic metre)

We really appreciate all the support we get from the community for this fundraising activity but please do get your orders in ASAP and it’s allocated on a first come, first served basis.  Free delivery in Greenhithe!

Concluding word: Please use common sense, caution and adult supervision to make this Halloween the best ever.  Have a fun, safe and happy Halloween.

Firefighter Isabelle LARDEUX-GILLOUX