Blaina, Abertillery and Brynmawr Fire Stations unite to save a life

Do not let them close Our Fire Station

Last night at 22:30 the shout went out, that there was a fire in Princess Street, Abertillery.  Standard operating procedure when informed that there is a life at risk, is for the Fire Service to commit three appliances.

In this case the stations were Abertillery, Blaina and Brynmawr.

Remember there are only five Fire Stations in the Blaenau Gwent area and so 60% of our manpower and resources were committed, leaving only Tredegar and Ebbw Vale available in case of another fire incident or road traffic collision.

Frightening thought.  Which goes to show we need MORE fire stations, crews and appliances in Blaenau Gwent if we are to protect our property and lives with adequate cover and not reduce it by 20% as the Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway and the bean counters wish to do.

Abertillery, as to be expected were first on the scene and it is only fair to point out to you readers, that their record of availability is almost 100% and so almost equal to that of their brother fire fighters in Blaina, who they have an excellent working relationship with. 

Although I believe I know how the fire was started, I suspect that there may well be legal proceedings, if the information I have is correct, and so common sense dictates that I say no more on the origins of the fire.

Yesterday afternoon Glyn was smiling at the public, and later that night he was saving lives 

Abertillery, as I said, were first on the scene followed within a minute by Blaina Fire Station, led by Watch Manager Glyn Griffiths, who as Senior Officer took command of the situation and being informed that there was a person still in the burning building ordered 2 fire fighters from Abertillery and 2 firefighters from Blaina to enter the building and attempt a rescue.

What must Glyn Griffiths's thoughts have been, having been present at the fire in Zephaniah Way, where two of his brother firefighters died and now having to send 4 men into an equally dangerous situation.  Would they come out?

I could not do his job and I wonder at the courage of  the firefighters who are paid less than £3 per hour, not even the price of a pint.

The firefighters also took the opportunity to rescue two dogs that were trapped in the burning house, once they were sure that the man they had been sent in to rescue, was safely evacuated from the building  and away from the danger of exploding gas.

So thanks to the combined efforts of Abertillery and Blaina firefighters (no disrespect to Brynmawr who had further to travel) a human life was saved, which should please the bean counters as Fire Service figures show that a single death by fire costs the community £1.8 million.

Incidentally, yesterday I spoke about Blaina being a "community" fire station, well Abertillery is also a "community" type station and I am reliably informed that the bond between Blaina Firefighters and Abertillery Firefighters is equal to (if not greater than) that of brothers.

I can believe it, because as an ex-serviceman, I know that the bonds between those who risk their lives together is impossible to really describe to anyone who has never experienced sharing a dangerous situation.

So let's see if my memory is correct.

Within almost two weeks, Blaina has been involved in a major road traffic collision and two serious house fires where 3 lives were saved, making a saving of £5.4 million.

Still going to tell me Huw that our boys are not worth the 67p a week it costs per person who is resident in Nantyglo and Blaina, to have them ready to protect our lives and property?