Friday 27 March 2009
18.00hrs
Avon Fire & Rescue Service Fire Control Operator Emma Reilly
has received praise for her outstanding actions in the rescue of a
woman who was trapped in a burning building.
When fire broke out in a property on Manor Park, Redland,
Bristol at lunchtime today it was Emma's cool head and
professionalism that undoubtedly saved the life of the 32 year old
woman who'd made the 999 call.
At 13.03 today, Emma Reilly took an call from a extremely
distressed woman who had heard her smoke alarm activating and was
subsequently faced with a heavily smoke logged hallway and her
escape route blocked by a rapidly developing fire.
Emma, 24, who graduated as a Fire Control Operator in December
2007 and whose father is a Watch Manager at Bath Fire Station, put
her training and experience into full practice, talking the woman
through vital safety advice and reassuring her that help was on the
way.
Emma, who also received the award for Top Trainee at her
graduation ceremony, said: "When I answered the 999 call I knew
this was a serious situation, with a woman's life at risk. I
immediately tried to calm the caller so I could gain more
information about her circumstances. My colleagues on Blue
Watch were listening to the call and relaying the information to
firefighters on their way to the scene.
"With the woman's escape route blocked I knew it was essential
to stay on the line to the caller and ensure I gave her advice to
keep her safe. I told her to shut the door of the room she
was in and make sure that any gaps were covered with blankets or
towels, or whatever was in the room. I also told her she must
get to the window for fresh air and stay there
until firefighters arrived.
"I continued to talk to the woman up until the moment that a
ladder was put to the window and a firefighter climbed through to
rescue her. I was just doing my job and it was very much a
team effort between all of Control and the crews from Southmead,
Portishead and Temple fire stations."
Principal Control Officer Bob Smith, who is in charge of
AF&RS Fire Control, said: "Emma's actions today certainly
helped save the life of this young woman. All our Fire
Control Operators are highly trained to deal with this kind of
situation and full praise must go to Emma. She remained calm
and professional throughout the incident, which undoubtedly
reassured the caller in what would have been a terrifying
situation.
"We have a dedicated team of Fire Control Operators here in Avon
and I am extremely proud of the way Blue Watch worked together to
ensure firefighters travelling to the scene had all the information
they needed to carry out a successful rescue."
Fire broke out in the three storey building after an electrical
fault in a communal hallway. Firefighters from Southmead, who
were on the scene within minutes of the call, had to break entry to
the property, which consisted of four flats.
Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the front
of the building to tackle the fire, while a further crew headed to
the rear of the property to locate the window where they knew the
caller was. Crews then put a triple extension ladder up to
the window to rescue the woman. Suffering from slight smoke
inhalation, she was immediately treated by paramedics on the
scene.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Director of Operational
Response, John Dando, said: "On a day when we are working to make
Bristol the 'Safest City in the World' through the Safer
Bristol partnership, I'm delighted to be able to praise the
exceptional actions of Fire Control Operator Emma Reilly, Blue
Watch Control, Southmead, Temple and Portishead firefighters who
all played their part in saving this woman's life. On behalf of the
service we would like to extend our best wishes for a speedy
recovery to this woman."