Brave Corringham couple among those honoured at Fire Service awards
By Nub News Reporter
17th Apr 2024 | Local News
A CORRINGHAM couple who rescued their elderly neighbours and pets from a bungalow fire last year are among those recognised for their bravery at a recent Essex County Fire and Rescue Service awards event.
With more than 140 nominations received across the Service, the People Awards celebrated excellence, teamwork, and commitment to public safety from within the force – and also those from the wider community who contributed with acts of support or heroism.
David and Samantha Bridge stepped up to the plate when an elderly couple's bungalow in York Avenue burst into flames after being struck by lightning.
Police dog handler Dave and Samantha, who works for the Essex Police Force's Criminal Justice Unit entered their neighbour's property in the early hours of the morning and braved thick smoke and a collapsing ceiling to get neighbours Barry and Margaret, and their six dogs and one cat to bring them to safety.
The fierce blaze took crews from Corringham, Orsett, Basildon and Grays two hours to extinguish.
The incident was recalled at the recent ceremony when Dave and Samantah were given a Chief Fire Officer's Commendation.
The event took place at the JobServe Community Stadium in Colchester on Monday 15 April.
A statement from the Fire Service says: "This ceremony gave colleagues the chance to recognise the outstanding contributions of individuals and teams from all areas of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.
"From the bravery and resilience of firefighters to the invaluable support provided by colleagues in various roles, each nominee has played an essential part in making Essex a safer place to live, work, and travel."
Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton said: "The People Awards give us the chance to show our appreciation for the unwavering dedication and exceptional service demonstrated by our people.
"These awards not only acknowledge individual excellence but also reflect the collective effort and teamwork that define our Service."
The ceremony was funded by sponsorship from Motorola Solutions and individual awards were sponsored by local businesses and the service has expressed thanks to:
- Motorola Solutions for sponsoring the ceremony
- BP Wild Bean Cafe Londis, Rivenall South Service Station for sponsoring the Outstanding Contribution award and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion award
- Inspiring OD Ltd for sponsoring the Inspirational Leader award
- FireHawk for sponsoring the Watch/Station/Team of the Year award
- CLC Facilities for sponsoring the Pride of Essex Fire award
- Waddington Brown for sponsoring the Support Colleague of the Year award
- Pinnacle Group for sponsoring the Firefighter of the Year award
Among others honoured were volunteers at the Essex Fire Museum in Grays who received the Outstanding Contribution Award.
A citation said: "It's evident that the Essex Fire Museum serves as more than just a place to house artifacts; it's an active educational resource and historical experience working with schools in the area and across Essex.
"The dedication and hard work of the volunteers, who spend so much time researching, and the time and help they have given to establish the Essex Fire Museum is commendable.
"Their commitment and vision have undoubtedly enriched the community's understanding of the history of the fire service, particularly in Essex. Such initiatives not only preserve the past but also inspire and educate present and future generations.
"We thank our museum team and our Service's volunteers for their incredible work to keep the history and memories alive."
Youngsters from local schools are regular visitors to the museum.
Other awards (with citations) were:
Outstanding Contribution Award - Antony Clement, Tom Jewell and Rob Thomson
Antony, Tom and Rob are all part of the United Kingdom International Search and Rescue Team (known as UKISAR) and are based in at the Essex Service's Urban Search and Rescue station in Lexden, where they respond to worldwide natural disasters, and also to incidents that take place in our county and across the UK.
Antony and Tom are recognised for their deployment to help with the search and rescue operations following the devastating earthquake in Morocco last September. They joined 60 other UK search and rescue specialists, made up of firefighters and staff from 14 fire and rescue services, including four search dogs and rescue equipment.
Rob is also recognised for his deployment to Malawi in March 2023 to assist with flooding after Cyclone Freddy caused devastation throughout Malawi and Mozambique. Rob is part of our Service's DEFRA Flood and Water Rescue team. It was the first time the team had been deployed in a flooding and water rescue capacity to a disaster abroad.
Outstanding Achievement Award - ECFRS Standard Bearers, Len Stevens and Nigel Townend
Len and Nigel's dedication to the fire service is truly admirable. Both have represented our Service and carried out the role of Standard Bearer for many years.
The role showcases respect and honour for the Fire Service and its traditions, as well as representing our Service with pride and dignity.
Both travel the length and breadth of the country for our Service - attending various memorial services and events. From the Annual Firefighters Service of Remembrance and wreath laying, the Durham Festival of Remembrance, to supporting Service events closer to home, such as our Christmas carol concert and Long Service event.
Chief Fire Officer Commendations
Firefighter Sam Hogwood - Sam from Coggeshall Fire Station was off duty, and in the best traditions of our Service did not hesitate to stop and help, the first person on scene to offer support at the scene of a road traffic collision, a casualty was critically injured in a car following a crash with a lorry, near to Popular Nursery, in Marks Tey.
Initiating the emergency response, Sam maintained contact with Ambulance control and immediately gained access to the vehicle with the injured trapped driver. Recognising that the unresponsive driver had a serious head injury and could not manage his own airway, Sam quickly intervened clearing and maintaining the airway until the casualty could be extricated.
The casualty was flown to Addenbrookes Hospital. However, without Sam's early interventions, quick thinking, and selfless willingness to take action, the full weight of the interagency emergency response would not have been able to make the difference they did on that day.
Sam acted decisively and in doing so prevented the casualty's condition deteriorating.
Firefighter Keegan Johnson - Firefighter Keegan Johnson from Stansted Fire Station was off duty and put their first aid training into practice when they heard a teenager crying and screaming in the street.
Keegan, who is a dispenser in a pharmacy was just settling in for the evening at home last Summer, when they heard screaming coming from the street outside. Rushing to the window, they saw a teenage girl with a heavily bleeding hand.
Springing into action, Keegan grabbed a first aid kit and raced outside to the girl.
Keegan took her to the side of the road and calmed her down, she had a deep cut from her thumb to her wrist.
Keegan comforted her and said they were a firefighter and that they are trained to help people.
The girl was bleeding quite heavily after cutting her hand on some glass, Keegan quickly used most of their first aid kit up, but thankfully lots of people had stopped and several of them brought first aid kits from their cars. Keegan's first aid training took over and they worked quickly to treat the girl's hand.
Once Keegan had administered first aid - the pair then headed to the fire station for a cup of tea while Keegan waited with the casualty to be collected from the fire station.
Essex Police officers Adam Westall, Damien Butcher , Phil Weedon, Thomas Rowsell and Richard Brannan
Quick-thinking officers lifted seven children to safety after diverting to the scene of a fire in Clacton.
On Sunday, 12 November, officers were deployed to arrest an outstanding suspect when they spotted a mobility scooter ablaze outside the front door of property.
Taking decisive action, DS Phil Weedon, DC Adam Westall, PC Tom Rowsell, together with local policing team officers PC Richie Brannan and Special Constable Damien Butcher, responded to calls for help.
The homeowner had returned to the address, shouting to officers that his family remained trapped inside. Officers smashed a window to the property, before lifting seven children and two adults to safety. Just as the mobility scooter exploded into a fireball.
Adam, Richard and Damien entered the property to ensure everyone was out, while fire crews and the ambulance service colleagues arrived on the scene within seven minutes. There were medical oxygen cylinders inside the address and one of the children had recently had an operation and was immobile.
A nearby caravan was damaged, but firefighters managed to stop the blaze from spreading any further. Thankfully the fire was contained, and it was a stroke of luck officers were passing and able to render fast assistance to help save a family.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award - Muhammad Ahsan from the Prevention Team
Muhammad is one of the Essex Fire Service Community Safety Officers, he is a true advocate for inclusion and diversity, and safety in the home, combining his skills to create safe and inclusive communities in Essex.
Muhammad has attended hundreds of events in the community in his time with our Service. From attending open days at our fire stations, hosting trips to mosques and integrating with other religions. Through these events he has educated thousands of people to help them keep safe in all areas of their lives.
He has been instrumental in helping our Service develop close links with our Muslim communities. He recently launched a guide about how fire and rescue services can support Muslim colleagues during Ramadan – enabling the message to be shared through other fire and rescue services, to communities throughout the UK and beyond.
Inspirational Leader - Jade Parker from Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand
Jade has had a huge impact on the Service and her team since joining as Internal Communications Manager in June last year.
One of her first tasks was to see a new intranet project over the line, and her expert eye and experience were invaluable in creating such a successful platform.
At a time when budgets are particularly tight, Jade has done a phenomenal job in generating sponsorship for our event tonight!
Over the last ten months, Jade has visited many stations including riding with Green Watch Basildon and Blue Watch Grays, to find out what really matters to them and how the communications team can work with them. This effort to go and listen has really been appreciated by station personnel.
Jade completed the Futures Leaders Programme last year – which was a huge achievement. Her team jokes that Jade has got a spreadsheet for everything but, her organisational skills really are invaluable.
One of Jade's biggest influences is the impact she has had on her team. She is quick to publicly give credit, even when she is the one who deserves it too, the team's opinions are valued and are given the freedom to make decisions.
Station, Watch or Team of the Year - Newport Fire Station
Newport Fire Station is a single pump village-based station in a rural area with a crew of 13.
Over the last 12 months the crew have gone above and beyond to maintain the high standards, enthusiasm, and service to the community in line with the Service's values, behaviours, and code of ethics.
They are truly a credit to the Service and themselves. The figures from the past year illustrate their continued high standards and their professionalism.
In 2023 the Newport On-call crews responded to 498 call outs – responding to their pagers from their primary employment or from their homes at a moment's notice.
They are the only On-call Heavy Rescue Pump in the Service. All Crew are members of the Fire Special Operational Team (FSOT) for Marauding Terrorist Attacks (MTA) now a National Asset.
Pride of Essex Fire Award – Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Team
The Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Team exemplifies the epitome of effective teamwork and dedication in handling a wide array of challenging incidents and events over the past year.
Their role in planning and executing Operation London Bridge and the Coronation of Charles III demonstrates their capability to manage high-profile events with precision and efficiency.
Moreover, their resilience in dealing with severe weather occurrences and leading the Critical Incident Team (CIT) reflects their adaptability and preparedness to respond to emergencies effectively. The development of the CIT PowerApp and the recruitment of trained loggists showcase their commitment to enhancing emergency response capabilities.
The team's involvement in numerous pre-planned events and exercises, such as Ride London, Creamfields South, and Clacton Airshow, underscores their versatility and collaboration with other departments, notably the Communication Team.
Additionally, their successful implementation of new plans, including Floods, Wildfires, and the Heatwave Assurance Plan, demonstrates their proactive approach to mitigating risks and ensuring public safety.
Overall, the past year has been marked by challenges and accomplishments, with every member of the Emergency Preparedness and Resilience Team going above and beyond their usual duties to address challenges in a professional, effective, and supportive manner. Their dedication and professionalism are invaluable assets to our Service and the communities they serve.
Support Colleague of the Year – Liam Noll
Liam recently completed his PhD on the groundbreaking research 'on the return to work for operational firefighters' marking a significant milestone in the field.
Being the first of its kind globally, Liam's PhD work holds immense potential to positively impact the lives of firefighters in our Service and enhance the support systems for their return-to-work post-injury.
By delving into this crucial yet overlooked aspect, Liam has not only filled a void in research but has also paved the way for future initiatives aimed at aiding firefighters in their rehabilitation journey.
The potential for Liam's research to evolve into national guidance speaks volumes about its importance and relevance in the firefighting community.
This is just the beginning of Liam's journey toward making a substantial impact on UK fire services. Liam is poised to continue driving positive change and enhancing support structures for firefighters returning to work after injury.
His dedication and contributions are sure to make a lasting difference in the lives of countless firefighters and their communities.
Firefighter of the Year - Gerald Greenfield from Leaden Roding Fire Station Fire Station
Gerald was motivated to join the Service after crews from Leaden Roding and Chelmsford extinguished a fire at his then business premises. His very first shout back in 1983 was an eight-hour call out to a thatch fire at a local pub, and he wondered exactly what he had let himself in for.
Gerald embodies the true spirit of community service and dedication in his role as an On-call firefighter. From his very first shout, Gerald has demonstrated unwavering commitment and selflessness throughout his 40-year career as an On-call firefighter.
Providing over 120 hours of availability per week and accumulating an astonishing 250,000 hours of on-call cover in his career. Even during the pandemic, when Gerald was in a high-risk group, he courageously continued his service to keep his community in Essex safe.
Despite running his own business for four decades, Gerald prioritises his firefighting duties, often closing his establishment to respond to pager calls and attend incidents. His sacrifice and willingness to put the needs of others above his own are commendable.
Gerald's impact extends beyond the emergency response; he actively contributes to training crews and participates in community events.
In every sense, Gerald exemplifies the essence of a true firefighter - dedicated, selfless, and always ready to serve, embodying our Service values and community spirit.
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