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The Newsletter of Surrey Fire Volunteer Service

The early months of this year saw significant flooding across

our region, with our volunteers deployed in multiple support

roles in the community and supporting our Firefighters.

Floods, Sweat and hot Tea

The 11th February saw an urgent email

from Belinda seeking volunteers to assist

with providing food and refreshments at

Chertsey fire station for the emergency

services assisting at the floods in the town.

Unfortunately when the email came out

I was on standby with my day job (the

electricity board) due to the stormy weather

due to hit that weekend, so I thought my

chance to help had passed. However, the

Sunday evening shift of the Valentine week-

end was proving hard to fill so I offered my

services (and that of my wife Simone) to

assist.

Thankfully by Sunday afternoon the wind

and rain had abated and power restored to

customers, so Simone and I arrived at

Chertsey fire station not long before dusk to

see that most vehicles on site were not red!

The drill yard was replete with Surrey

Search & Rescue, Surrey, Metropolitan and

Sussex police, military and Red Cross

vehicles – there was a truly multi agency

response!

So to the cooking – I have never seen so

many bacon sandwiches, steak slices and

once Simone got her hands on some

ingredients, a homemade soup. With the

smell of curry powder from the soup

emanating a second batch of soup was soon

rustled up and quickly devoured by the cold

and hungry crews.

The dirty dishes and mugs kept piling up!

On the journey home we discussed how

hard work it had been but how we both felt

a sense of achievement and would happily

assist again if asked...enter Andy who with-

in a day or so was seeking volunteers to

help through to the end of the following

weekend.

With tea and coffee on a self service urn for

the emergency service staff to help them-

selves, we set about serving the bacon sand-

wiches etc this time with the help of a large

bain-marie that Andy and Belinda had ac-

quired.

Sunday was my busiest shift with the bain-

marie being a godsend. With Tracy on

order taking duty (you need to take orders

when two mini buses of hungry and cold

police officers turn up at once!), Tony on

cooking and me on plating up, the food

stocks were fast being depleted. Thankfully

a delivery from a supermarket arrived (and

all fridges filled to the brim) and a social

media “call for help” via Facebook resulted

with assistance from two quarters: a joint

effort by Chertsey Flood Volunteers/Lions

Club of Woking brought in more savoury

food and with the assistance of Tim

(another SFVS volunteer) the Camberley

Mummies brought in cakes, chocolates and

sweets that were being craved by the hard

working crews.

Volunteering here had been hard work, very

rewarding and a great opportunity to put

something back into the community. My

apologies to those who also worked with me

at Chertsey and didn’t get an explicit men-

tion, with so much to say in a short space it

wasn’t easy putting pen to paper!

Paul & Simone Measday

ISSUE 2 2014 JUNE FIGHTING THE

FLOODS .................... 4

NURSERY SMILES ........ 2

HUNGRY FOR

VOLUNTEERING……...3

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Community Matters

Andrew Hart

Assistant Volunteer Manager – Surrey Fire and Rescue Service

Over a period of a couple of weeks we have been undertaking Home Fire

Safety Visits to the service users homes that use Woking Disability

Resource Centre.

I was assisted by three volunteers over various days to undertake 7 Home

Fire Safety Visits to the WDRC Service Users and we also visited

properties that were referred to the Volunteer Department from Guildford

and Waverley Care and Repair and

other referrals from Social Services

All of these visits have been

extremely worthwhile and we have

been able to give advice specific to

the needs of the individuals, all of

whom were ‘High Risk’. We have

also fitted smoke detectors and

referred people for an upgrade to

their existing care line systems, for

example linked smoke detectors and

fall alarms.

We have recorded essential

information for the fire crews, we

have noted the location of the person

in the property if they would be

unable to ‘self rescue’ due to a

disability. This enables the crew to locate the person quickly and speed up

a rescue if the worst should happen.

Belinda and I have also been working with the service users and providing

them with information on Fire Safety, they will be volunteering for us ,

promoting the HFSV service to other disabled people and assisting us in

other areas

These visits would not have taken place if it wasn't for the invaluable help

you, the Volunteers give, and for this you should quite rightly be proud of

what you are doing.

Janine Gray

Day Services Officer – Woking Disability Resource Centre

We have around thirty service users at the moment that come in on various

days. Our service users have a wide range of

different disability's from MS, Stroke, cerebral

palsy, spina bifida,. We also have service us-

ers with sight and hearing problems.

All their abilities are very varied. The age

range we have here at the moment is between

18 and 75 years ( but all very young at heart).

We are all very looking forward to teaming up

with the Fire Service and giving our service

users a opportunity to volunteer. Many of our

younger service users already do some other

volunteering it extremely difficult in finding

paid work for the few hours they need. Find-

ing opportunities around their care needs is the

biggest problem most of them face. When

health issues take over and they are unwell or

have to attend hospital is the biggest problem

when looking for part time paid work. By volunteering with the Fire Ser-

vice I feel that they will also be learning and will be able to pass on this

knowledge. Most of our service users like to volunteer in and around the

community as they feel as they are helping and giving something back to

the community while making them feel empowered.

We recently ran a Spring fair for our local nursery and were looking for fun activities for the

children that also delivered an educational message.

I thought of contacting Surrey Fire and Rescue as children always love the fire engine, so I

dropped an email through to the Surrey Fire Volunteer service using their online form which was

easy and quick to do.

Within 24 hours Belinda Bowman had contacted me to confirm they would be providing not only

a fire engine for our fair but also volunteers who would provide dressing up outfits for the

children as well as fun activities which delivered an important fire safety message.

On the day the volunteer team arrived full of energy and had lots of fun showing the children the

fire engine and letting them get dressed up in the kit!

The feedback from parents after the fair showed just how popular the volunteer fire services pres-

ence had been, the children loved the activities and the parents loved the learning experience!

We’re looking to invite the volunteer team back into our nursery soon!

“We were blown away

by the success of our

first spring fair”

Kim Blondell

Golden Owl Nursery PTA member

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To provide realistic driving practice for SFRS

off road appliances and crews within a wild-

fire context. Within this to create an evolv-

ing scenario which will provide the oppor-

tunity for the IC and Command Support to

gather, plot and interpret information and

formulate an incident over-

view.

Incorporating the use of:

Forward Control and Inci-

dent Command

Appliance deployment and moni-

toring

GPS systems operations and map-

ping

Communications

Practical application of off road driving

techniques and knowledge of the vehicles

capabilities and limits of use.

To give personnel opportunity to demon-

strate competencies within role or as part of

their development plans.

Allow for further training needs to be identi-

fied and addressed with the provi-

sion of expert feedback from SFRS

Driving School Instructors in at-

tendance and Wildfire officers.

To ensure knowledge, under-

standing and application in use of

GARMIN hand held GPS device issued

to off road vehicles (with excep-

tion of 21M1)

Identify weaknesses and gaps in

current arrangements through the audit

and review process

SRFS held 2 wildfire training days at the MOD test track in Camberley this May, these events allowed firefighters to re-create a realistic scenario to practice wildfire response planning in the Services off road vehicles. There were crews present from Woking, Camberley, Farnham, Painshill and Haslemere and on each day two exercis-es were run with a much needed break in the middle. Andy Hart and the volunteer team consisting of Mark, Heather, Bob and Lauren provided an essential and most welcome service ensuring that all personnel had access to a warm drink and hot food to recharge the batteries at lunchtime - all served with a smile! SFRS crews who attended were all very impressed with the professional set up provided by the volunteer service, and of course the refreshments went down very well. I would personally like to thank Andy and the team for all their efforts, they were there on time and stayed for the duration both days, fortunately the weather was kind and the rain stayed away. We were able to repay the volunteers efforts with a ride around the test track in a Unimog at the end of the exercise (they call it the alpine way - so you can imagine the hills) and they all came back in one piece! Paula Hartwell Assistant Group Commander

Just wanted to show my appreciation for your teams volunteer support on Exercise Bracken 8 May 2014. Without your professionalism and welfare support these events would not be deemed as successful as they are, for this I am extremely grateful. Alan Grant Assistant Group Commander

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We asked our volunteers for their experience of HFSV’s—

this is what we got ……….

A ndy and I did a HFRC in Milford ages ago for an older lady who was very reluctant to ask us in, as she said that her Father had been a firefighter in London Fire Brigade and had fitted smoke detectors for her so she was fine. We eventually persuaded her to let us in to check them and found that they no longer worked. She also had a fire blanket that she didn't really know how to use. We fitted new smoke alarms and advised her to get rid of the fire blanket. This showed that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing and give a false sense of security.

On the HFSV a lady had one of those halogen lamps (which most kids have) and it managed to burn quite a large hole in the floor as it got knocked over. That was pretty scary as I would have thought that they were pretty safe. Another issue is the amount of burn marks on carpets and furniture caused by those who leave their hair straighteners on the floor, or resting on the table as they get ready - safety fea-tures have improved on these items greatly but it is wise to re-mind them of the dangers. One safety feature we saw in one house was the use of the plugs which turn everything off - I think they were supplied by EON energy company - they meant that none of the items plugged in to this were left on standby and turned off the items at the mains.

“Brand New Range Rover on the drive, but no smoke alarms”

I feel as a Fire Volunteer that I have made a great difference to the

safety in people’s homes today by contributing my time along-

side the Fire Service to offer free home fire safety visits to the local

residents of Surrey.

I have learnt that there are a wide variety of people in their homes

today that still own items/appliances that are a fire risk to them-

selves and others such as block adapters, 10 year old heated blan-

kets, and glass ornaments in windows.

Hopefully in my role as a volunteer I have alerted them of the safe-

ty implications that could arise.

Since joining the volunteer service I have enjoyed the interaction

between myself and the public, I also feel proud knowing that I

have raised their awareness of the safety factors in and around

their own homes.

I enjoy meeting the public; young, old and from different ethnic

minorities and back grounds. A sense of humour is needed with

children which makes my role worthwhile and fun especially when

the children call you Fireman Sam! :) Regardless of age, fire safe-

ty information remains paramount.

“The house was Pad-

locked…..

…..from the Inside”

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Since joining the Volunteer team, i have been humbled by the

amount of free time you the volunteers have given up, showing

that no matter what has been asked, you have risen to the chal-

lenge, Thanks to your continued help there are people in Surrey

who are now much safer due to the fire safety advice you

have given. The Flooding really brought out the best in people

and the level of commitment to that was amazing, not only in the

kitchen but in the provision of cakes and biscuits.

We have had some new starters since the last newsletter and they

have been great keeping up the same standards set by the exist-

ing team.

I feel privileged to work with you all, and i hope this continues

long into the future..

Andy Hart

Assistant Volunteer Manager

Approximately 3100 meals provided. In addition to the food below we also produced home made soups, home made deserts, jacket potatoes and pro-vided ready made meals (donated from local organisations) there was also a substantial amount of cakes biscuits crisps sweets and fresh juices available. We catered for vegetarians and varying dietary needs, and fire volunteers also delivered food out to crews where they were unable to return to Chertsey. A snapshot of some of the quantities of food: Bread: 240 loaves Pies (assortment) : 966 Milk: 410 pints Bananas: 573 Apples: 256 Sausages: 3,123 Beans (cans) 214 Eggs: 1,080 Bacon: 4,750 rashers

The volunteers worked tirelessly often long days from the early stages of the Incident with the RVS setting up a food station with SFRS Volunteers and Plymouth Brethren right through to closure of the incident. The food provided was plentiful and varied catering for very large numbers of both Service and non Service personnel allowing us as bronze commanders to focus on the operational side of the inci-dent knowing that welfare had been catered for. Well done to all Volunteers involved. Paul Kenny, Group Commander

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MESSAGE

The past few months have been extremely busy for the volunteering department.

With the Chertsey flooding, Junior Citizens, Senior Citizens , Home Fire Safety Visit campaigns and many other events our

volunteers have been kept on their toes!

I personally spoke to many of their different agencies/volunteer groups from all across the country during the flooding at

Chertsey and the feedback was amazing for what our volunteers provided.

We had members of the public turn up daily with cakes for everyone

assisting; our volunteers were chomping at the bit to get down and help.

Not only just provide catering, but they went the extra mile.

Our Fire Volunteers were knocking up apple crumbles, home made soups,

full English breakfasts, you name it, they cooked it! In the words of one

ambulance technician ‘They’ve really looked after us, they’ve fed me more

than my wife does. They’re fantastic’

Our volunteers also went out into the community too, delivering flooding

information and carbon monoxide detectors to rest centres throughout the

area. Other volunteers put on their uniform and turned up at local centres to

help fill sand bags. It really was a big community effort and demonstrates

what we can do when faced with adversity.

It was quite humbling to see; on behalf of myself and Andy, a huge thank

you and pat on the back to everyone involved!

Thank you’s

It was as a result of the efforts of the volunteers that I received an invite to

attend 10 Downing Street on the 7th April to represent Surrey Fire and

Rescue’s volunteers and to talk about how our volunteers were involved

and assisted during the exceptional weather and the remarkable efforts

involved. I was very honoured to attend on behalf of our volunteers and for

Surrey Fire and Rescue. It was an amazing experience.

Wagamamas

Unfortunately the Wagamamas restaurant in Guildford was severely

affected by the weather and became flooded just after Christmas.

As a thank you to the community our volunteers who assisted during the flooding were invited to a VIP re-launch lunch on

the 6th April which was thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated by all the volunteers

Please all keep on doing what you are doing. The efforts of all our volunteers are appreciated by not only the operational

personnel, but partner agencies and local community groups that you help to support.

You all really do make a difference

Belinda Bowman

www.surreyfirevolunteer.org www.facebook.com/

SurreyFireVolunteer www.twitter.com/

Volunteer_SFVS

If you are out on the commons, whether walking your dog, riding your bike/horse or just rambling, being a visible sight by wearing one of our high vis jackets and handing out information leaflets is invaluable. Please help educate the public as what to do/not to do and how to raise the alarm if a fire is spotted