Two Rescued in Flat Fire in Bedford
1
March 2008: Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service control room received
a 999 call from a person who had seen flames at the window of a flat above a
shop in Greyfriars, Bedford. A second 999 call was received from an occupant
within the flat.
Crews responded, amid busy Saturday
morning traffic, and were led at the scene by Station Commander (SC) Chris
Adams.
SC Adams reported that a man in the upper floor of a two storey flat heard the smoke alarm going off in the lounge below. The man went to investigate and found room filled with smoke. He went back upstairs to get his son but when they tried to get out of the flat found the escape route thick with black smoke. Instead he and son jumped from bedroom window on to scaffolding which was set up outside of building. From scaffolding they were helped to safety down 9 metre ladders by fire crews.
Fire crews using BA put out the fire which first reports suggest was started by an electrical fault.
"This was a fast response to a 999 call where lives were in danger and the situation was professionally handled by our crews," said SC Adams.