Out of the Ashes : Stories from Lancashire

As we'll soon be opening up recruitment for on-call firefighters, in this episode we will be discussing the topic of the role of on-call firefighters with On-call support officer Adam Wagstaff and on-call firefighter Leanne Walker. On-call firefighters are members of our community living and working in Lancashire who often have another job but also respond to emergencies from home or work when needed. They must live or work close to an on-call fire station and be able to respond quickly to crew the fire engine; generally being able to get to the station within 5-8 minutes. The service employs people from all walks of life in the role, ranging from self-employed tradespeople, stay-at-home parents to employees of small businesses and large, well-known organisations. They are paid for their time and are professionally trained firefighters who work alongside full-time colleagues to respond to a wide range of incidents from road, rail or air crashes, to floods, fires, chemical spills or rescuing people trapped in confined spaces. Our applications open on Monday, June 17, and close on Sunday, July 7, with training courses beginning in November. If you’re interested in finding out more about on-call firefighting at LFRS and would like to register your interest, please head to our website www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/oncall. And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In Episode 6, we speak to Community Safety Advisors Faz and Farzana and discuss safety during Ramadan. This celebration is held during the 9th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Ramadan marks a time of fasting for Muslims all over the world. People who observe Ramadan abstain from food and drink from dawn until dusk, only eating one meal before sunrise and another after sunset. This year it is approximately celebrated from the evening of 10th March until 9th April, with Eid being celebrated around the 11th April. Together we discuss what their Ramadan celebrations look like with their families, advice on how to stay safe in the kitchen whilst cooking and the importance of having a working smoke alarm and an evacuation plan. For more information about safety during Ramadan, please visit www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/ramadan. If you'd like to book a home fire safety check, please visit www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/home-fire-safety And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In Episode 5, we are celebrating International Women's Day (Friday 8th March), this is a global day celebrating the achievements of women. In the episode we speak to Group Manager Caroline Harrison and Watch Manager Sarah Holden and discuss this year’s theme which is inspiring inclusion. The episode explores their experiences of being a female firefighter and motherhood, the fitness levels and recruits course required and how you could prepare and what International Women's Day means to them. And, who knows, we may see more and more women realising what they are capable of and encourage them to apply for a role they didn’t previously think they could do. And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In episode four, we speak to Station Manager James Crouan, Firefighters Gary Fernandez and Davey Byers, and our Safety, Health and Wellbeing Advisor Bekki Ford ahead of International Men's Day 2023 (19 November 2023). This day is all about making a positive difference to the well-being and lives of men and boys. The episode explores each colleague's story and things that helped them, the stigmas they have found around men's mental health and it provides examples on how you can help and support those people around you who may be struggling. (Please note, We are not medical experts. Our colleagues are sharing their own experiences and stories). Links to Websites/Resources discussed in the episode: uk.movember.com giveusashout.orghubofhope.co.uk Work Support: firefighterscharity.org.uk0300 373 0896And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In episode three, we talk to Paul O’Brien who shares his story of a devastating house fire which began from a seemingly innocent disposable bbq which he placed into a wheelie bin after a day of celebrations back in 2021. The waste from these items can remain hot enough to cause a fire for far longer than people realise. For Paul a £2 disposable bbq caused over £100k of damage and placed him and his family into temporary housing for 2 years. Together with Paul, we would like to raise the awareness of the dangers these items can pose and how the safe disposal of the hot waste is extremely important. If in any doubt, always douse a disposable bbq with water or tip it into a metal container in a safe place and ensure the contents are fully extinguished before ultimately disposing of it. For more information about barbecues and chimenea safety, please head to our website on www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/bbq Paul also reflects on his new venture as an on-call firefighter at Lytham and provides an exclusive insight into how his family have found this new role following their house fire, his emotions at his first incident and how it feels to protect his local community. If you would like to know more about becoming an on-call firefighter visit www.lancsfirerescue.org.uk/oncall And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

Get ready to listen to our next installment of Out of the Ashes: Stories from Lancashire. In episode two, join us as we delve deep into the flames that burn over and underground with one of our wildfire experts, Station Manager Rob Harvey. Rob shares his valuable knowledge and first- hand experience of scorching wildfires. We explore how in hot and dry conditions BBQs, campfires and cigarettes can quickly ignite and spread. As a fire and rescue service, we are now more prepared than ever before to extinguish wildfires with our recent investments in new equipment and resources but ultimately we want people to understand the risks associated with disposable barbecues and naked flames on any type of open grassland and the extensive damage and devastation they cause. This time of the year is when we see an increase of calls for moorland and grass fires and with the warm and dry weather set to continue over this summer, we want everyone to take extra care and look after Lancashire. And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.

In our first episode, we speak to a woman whose heart stopped beating and the community first responder who, along with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) crew, saved her life. Diane Fenton went into cardiac arrest at her home in Leyland in January 2023. Her husband immediately dialled 999 and began chest compressions, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service’s first ever community first responder, Andy Dow, was the first to arrive on scene. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is running a trial involving non-operational staff volunteering as community first responders from the workplace, supporting North West Ambulance Service. Community first responders are trained to provide life-saving treatment to patients in the vital first few minutes of an emergency until ambulance crews arrive. If you’re interested in becoming a Community First Responders (CFR), you can send your name and address to CFR.recruitment@nwas.nhs.uk to find out if NWAS are looking for volunteers in your community. And remember if you liked our episode, please like and subscribe and let’s make Lancashire safer together.