Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 18/11/2010 17:08

Extensive flooding across mid and east Cornwall has brought devastation to homes and Communities across the County from St. Austell to Bude. The Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) has received wide praise from community leaders and the media for its quick and efficient response to deal with a deluge of flood water following a prolonged period of heavy rain (43 mm) in 24 hours running over already saturated land.

At an early stage, indications were that this incident had the potential to cause significant risk to the Community and damage to Cornwall’s infrastructure, including roads, rail, bridges and key Council services. The resources of CFRS and Cornwall Council were mobilised, a Major Incident was declared and a multi-agency Silver Command was opened at Cornwall Councils New County Hall. Gold Command was put on stand-by at Middlemoor Police Headquarters, Exeter.

A well practiced FRS command structure was quickly brought into play and flood plans activated by Cornwall’s Emergency Management Team. The priorities of the tactical commanders were quickly established and the Fire and Rescue Service ‘Command Suite’ was opened to support strategic, tactical and operational commanders. The Command Suit was led by ACFO Simpson and this team developed dynamic and supporting plans to cope with over 200 calls for help and a rapidly changing situation.

At the height of this incident, Gold Command was activated, ACFO Trevor Stratford (Devon and Somerset FRS) represented Cornwall FRS. The service deployed a total of 51 vehicles including pumping appliances, 2 HVP pumps,(one from Devon and Somerset FRS), 2 Water Rescue Teams and a series of 4x4 vehicles to access key areas rendered impassable by landslides and debris strewn across roads.

Fifteen people were trapped in vehicles and buildings and were rescued by the FRS. In addition, many others were led to a point of safety by the FRS to community and rest centres opened by Cornwall Council to provide shelter and support.

As evening approached, Cornwall Council established a multi-agency recovery cell to lead the recovery phase of the operation. In addition a number of community meetings were established to offer support and information to those affected by the floods.

A visit by the Prime Minister is expected for tomorrow in order that he can view for himself the devastation and look at how the community is starting to return to normality by working with the Council and helping itself.

As the response phase comes to an end, CFO Des Tidbury said -

“I am very proud of the professionalism displayed by Cornwall’s firefighters when responding to this incident, clearly the lessons of the Boscastle incident have been learned and now that the rescues and emergency phases are at an end, the priority now is to get people back in their homes and start a multi-agency plan to recover key elements of the infrastructure”.

Some 24hours after the initial call it is worth noting that fire crews are still out in the communities of St Blazey, Lostwithiel and Mevagissey giving practical help to the most vulnerable, some of whom have been badly affected by the flood water.