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Saturday, 17th May 2008

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Sowerby Bridge house fire 999 call



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Operator: Fire brigade.
Donna: Hiya. I'm stuck in the house and my house is on fire.
O: Alright. What's your address, love?
D: 9 Orion Place.
O: 9 Owen Place?
D: Orion Place.
O: Ryan Place. And what town is that, love?
D: Sowerby Bridge.
O: In Sowerby Bridge? And you're actually stuck in the house?
D: Yeah. We're stuck in the bedroom window.
O: Right, okay love. And it's Sowerby Bridge.
D: Yeah.
O: Right. Right, okay. So it's Sowerby Bridge and its... Don't worry about it love, I'm going to get somebody straight out there.
D: Don't worry about it? I'm stuck in the house...breaks off, can't make out.
O: I know. Listen, listen. When you say Orion Place can you spell that for me?
D: O. R. I. O. N. Orion.
O: Orion. That's fine love. No problem. I'm getting a fire engine to you now. They won't be long before they're there now. Listen. It's very important that you stay on the line with me and I need to know exactly where you are and how many people are in the property.
D: Just me and my three boys.
O: Are you all together?
D: Yeah.
O: Right. Okay then. Now which bedroom are you in?
D: In my bedroom.
O: Is that the front or the back of the house?
D: Front.
O: The front of the house is it? Now, listen to me. Do you know where the fire is? I don't want you go looking for it. Is it downstairs?
D: It's in the kitchen.
O: Right, it's in the kitchen. Right love. Is your bedroom door closed?
D: Yeah.
O: Right, keep your bedroom door closed. Now, is it safe to open a window.
D: I've got the window open.
O: Right, now, how old are your children?
D: Erm, hang on. Ten, eight and two.
O: Right, are they all with you?
D: Yeah.
O: Now listen. The fire engines are on their way. They'll be with you any minute now. It's very important that you all stay together and keep as near to the window as you possibly can.

Crying, heavy breathing.

O: Now, listen. I'm Sheila. What's your name love?
D: Donna.
O: Right Donna. Now listen Donna. As I say all four of you need to stay as near to the window as you can. I know it's frightening but for the children...
D: (To children) Come here boys. Boys come here.
O: That's right love. Keep them all with you Donna.
D: (To children) Come here. Come and stay by the window.
O: That's right love. Now listen. It's very important, Donna, that you keep as calm as you can for you children. Now the fire engines are on their way. They're coming from Halifax. They'll be about four minutes but they're on, they've already set off, love. They're on their way to you. You must keep them right next to the window.

Sounds of children.

O: Tell them that Sheila says they're to stay near the window. Listen to me Donna. Can you hear me love?
D: Yeah, yeah.
O: Alright, I'm not...
D: (Says something inaudible)
O: They must stay...Now is any smoke coming in the door at all?
D: I don't know.
O: Alright.
D: (To a child) Is there smoke coming in the door.
Child: No.
O: What you need to do, if you see any smoke at all near the door just put a blanket near the door. Okay. So it keeps the smoke away. It's important that you...
D: Yeah, yeah it is.
O: Yeah? Well put...
D: We're gonna die aren't we?
O: O: No, no. You're not gonna die Donna. I...Sheila's with you. I'm with you and you're not going to die. I promise you that. Now listen. Can you get your bedspread or your quilt and put it at the bottom of the door so that no smoke comes through? Can you do that for me.
D: (To a child) Get the quilt darling and put it at the bottom of the door so no smoke can get in.
O: That's it. Tell him he's a good lad and tell him he's behaving really well and he's being really brave. Because it is hard but, Donna, you must keep calm for your children because if they see you panic they're going to be worse.
D: I know, I know, I know.
O: Right. Are you all back at the window love?
D: Yeah.
O: Yeah. Now listen. We're speaking to the firemen now, they're on their way to you, and we've told them you're in the front bedroom and all four of you are in the front bedroom.
D: Yeah.
O: Alright Donna. So just stay with me. As I say my name's Sheila. Just stay on the phone with me.
D: My cousin's a firefighter so it could be her. (Laughs).
O: Yeah. It is. Is she really? Oh well...
D: Nicola.
O: Well, if she knows your house address she'll be down there like a flash.
D: I know.
O: So don't worry. But listen, your children...
D: You three come here.
O: Yeah. Keep, keep…tell them, tell them they have to stay near the window with you. Now can you open the window very wide?
D: It is really wide, yeah.
O: There's no way that the fires going to get into the bedroom before the firemen get there. That's just not going to happen.
D: I went down and tried to put it out myself but I've burnt all my hand.
O: No no no. You must stay where you are love. Don't even attempt to go back out of the room. Stay where you are. We've told the firemen that you are at the front bedroom of the house. Keep the window really wide open.
D: (To children) The firemen are coming now, lovey. They're coming for us, they're coming for us.
O: Tell them to be quiet because they'll hear the fire engine. They'll hear the sirens anytime now.
D: (To children) You'll hear the fire engines. They're coming for us darling.
O: Alright love.
D: (To children) They're coming for us.
O: They're near the window with us aren't they Donna?
D: Yeah.
O: Alright Donna. It's important you stay near the winodw and get as much fresh air into you as you can. There's no way that fire's gonnna get through that door before the firemen come so you're all gonna be safe and you'll be absolutely fine Donna. Alright lovey. Now listen, how old's your eldest lad?
D: He's 10.
O: And what's his name?
D: Joe.
O: Alright. As long as Joe keeps with you and keeps the other two safe because obviously the other ones are probably going to be a little bit more frightened, aren't they?
D: Yeah.
O: The firemen, when the firemen get there they will come straight to you four and they will sort everything out for you.
D: We can hear the sirens.
O: You can hear the sirens? That's excellent because they will be with you any time now. But do not go out of the bedroom before the firemen get to you.
D: We can't get out of the bedroom.
O: No. What I mean is you mustn't go out of the room. Stay in the room until the firemen get into the room to you. Can they see you at the front bedroom?
D: Yeah, yeah, I'm sat in the window.
O: Exactly. So they'll basically see you. They'll know straightaway where to put the ladder up and they'll talk to you and they'll get you out of the house without any problems Donna. Alright love, so listen. You just keep as calm as you possibly can.
D: (To child) Kian and Jake, wake them up.
O: It's what love?
D: (To child) Wake them up.
O: What's he saying?
D: The other two are asleep, I'm just telling him to wake other two up, they're asleep.
O: Oh well they're alright as long as they're near the window getting the fresh air, Donna, they'll be absolutely fine.
D: Yeah, I've got the window wide open. It's a proper fire escape window.
O: Well, that's what I mean. You know, the firemen are going to be able to get you out of there. There's no way the fire's going to go anywhere near you. Can you hear the firemen now? Can you see them at all yet?
D: Yeah.
O: Okay...you stay on the phone until I know that they are actually with you. That's the main thing that you stay in the house. Can you wave something so that they can...have they seen you? Have they actually pulled up yet, have they pulled up or are they still coming down the street?
D: Well, they're here now.
O: Right, as soon as they pull up can you shout and make sure that they know you're there and wave something at them.
D: Yeah they do, they can see us.
O: I can see they have arrived now. Right, now. Just stay there and keep the children near the window for the fresh air. The firemen are going to be with out any minute now. If he's shouting at you, you listen to him and I'll just be quiet if you want me to be quiet, if you listen to the firemen.
Shouting.

D: Yeah, they are shouting at me.
O: Alright love. I'll stay on the phone love but you just talk to them love. I'll just stay here.
D: (To firemen) Boys out first?
O: Have they, are they getting the boys? Do exactly what they firemen tell you, don't do anything until the firemen says.

Crying.

D: (To child) It's alright, it's alright.
O: Is the firemen telling you to give the boys? Right, listen to me, now listen to...
D: I can't I'm trying to talk to two of you at the same time.
O: No, don't talk to me.
Ends

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  • Last Updated: 02 May 2008 9:03 AM
  • Source: n/a
  • Location: Halifax
 
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Westlifebird,

02/05/2008 10:13:50
Absolutely spine chilling - so very very glad you are all safe and well done to Sheila for keeping so calm!!!!!
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