22/5/2006 - Media opportunity: Rescue earns Carlisle firefighters special commendation

Ten Carlisle firefighters are to receive the Chief Fire Officer's Commendation for their actions in the early stages of an incident during which they rescued five people from a burning three-storey terraced house in the city.

In December last year, members of Blue-Watch were on night duty at Carlisle Fire Station when they were called at 3:30am to the scene of a serious fire at the house on Chatsworth Square. Upon arriving they found the Georgian terraced property well alight and with five people on the roof waiting to be saved. All five were rescued by firefighters using ladders and later treated in hospital for the effects of smoke. 

The members of Blue-Watch will receive the Commendation at 2:00pm on Tuesday 23 May at Carlisle Fire Station where print and broadcast media are invited to attend. There will be a media opportunity to talk to the firefighters about their actions on the night as well as to interview Bernard Dolan, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer.

Other difficulties encountered and overcome by firefighters during the incident included communication problems with the building's occupants who spoke limited English and an initial problem in getting adequate water due to problems with a number of nearby hydrants.

Watch Manager Anthony Rooney, Acting Crew Manager John Lynch and firefighters Frank Davidson, Daniel Bulman, Stuart Graham, David Scott, Craig Harrington, Steven Ratcliffe, Malcolm Hind and Chris Hodgson are to receive the Commendation in recognition of the courage and professionalism they displayed in the initial stages of what could have easily been a tragic incident.