Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

Arwenack Street, Falmouth at 09/04/2020 20:27

At 20:27 Critical Control received the first of multiple calls reporting a fire with persons trapped inside. Four appliances (2 from Falmouth, 1 from Tolvaddon and 1 from Truro) were immediately mobilised. An Area Manager was also mobilised to the incident. This is because the nearest Wholetime Officer will always attend a life risk incident, regardless of rank.

The first appliance arrived in just 4 minutes, followed by police and ambulance.

On arrival crews found smoke issuing from a two-story terraced property. With persons reported to be inside, the Incident Commander made a decision to commit 2 firefighters wearing breathing apparatus under Rapid Deployment to search for casualties. One person was rescued by firefighters and was assessed by Paramedics. All persons were then accounted for.

As further resources arrived on scene crews set into a hydrant and continued to extinguish the fire, which was in a flat within the building.

The cause was accidental and initially started by a chip pan fire which spread through the property.

Market Street, Church Street and Arwenack Street were all closed by police to allow emergency services to work at the scene.