Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is continuing to provide support to areas of the UK affected by flooding. On Friday, the Service deployed a Swift Water Rescue Team from Hay on Wye Fire Station and specialist pumping equipment to assist with the current flooding situation in the Thames Valley. Over the weekend, relief crews and additional equipment from Ammanford Fire Station were sent to Whitleywood Fire Station in Berkshire. For more on this story, click on the headline link to the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

Some of the latest incidents handled by the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service - 20 June 2012 10:59 Nant Fach, Llangranog, New Quay: Appliances from Newcastle Emlyn and New Quay attended a road traffic collision involving a pick up truck and a JCB fast track vehicle at Nant Fach, Llangranog. Fire Service released one male casualty using cutting equipment. The casualty was taken to hospital by ambulance. 19 June 2012 12:51 Cwrt y Gollen Barracks, Crickhowell: An appliance from Crickhowell attended a gas leak at the Cwrt y Gollen Barracks in the town, caused by workmen collecting hay. The leak was isolated and properties nearby were advised to remain indoors, keeping windows and doors closed. The A40 was closed as a precaution. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service provided an appliance from Brynmawr as support. 18 June 2012 13:37 Outside Dawnus at the rear of Amazon, Ffordd Amazon, Swansea: Appliances from Swansea Central and Neath attended a road traffic collision involving an ov...

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are holding and attending a range of different practical and educational events during Child Safety Week (until 24 June 2012) to help parents, carers and young people learn more about keeping children safe from fire and reducing the risk of serious accidents. Throughout the week Young Firefighters in Swansea, Lampeter, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire will be talking to their peers at local schools and youth groups about home fire safety. As part of the service´s ongoing Phoenix Project, courses are running throughout the week in Machynlleth and Haverfordwest for young people aged 11 to 25 years old to help build confidence and promote independent thinking through fire service activities.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Firefighters at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were honoured to receive the Queen´s Diamond Jubilee Medal at a ceremony held at Fire Service Headquarters on 8 June. The medals were awarded as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. They are awarded to emergency services personnel who have been in paid service, and who had completed five full calendar years of service on 6 February 2012. More than 900 officers at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have been awarded the medal, and the special ceremony was held to give representatives from across the Service an opportunity to receive their medal in a formal setting.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Firefighters from Morriston, Gorseinon, Pontarddulias and Pontardawe recently carried out an exercise at Morriston Hospital, Swansea, involving a simulated fire in the operating theatre suite, designed to test the hospital's internal emergency procedures, as well as providing a realistic scenario for firefighters to deal with. Firefighters were deployed to the affected area wearing breathing apparatus and laying out equipment to carry out simulated firefighting and search and rescue activities, whilst hospital staff were treating patients and implementing their own emergency procedures for such incidents. The exercise was carried out with absolute minimal interruption to the routine operation of the theatres, and as such did not affect the care and treatment of patients which was continually monitored and maintained by hospital staff.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service Older people across Carmarthenshire are being encouraged to request a free Home Fire Safety Check from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service to help make their property safer from fire. A Home Fire Safety Check is usually carried out by two Fire Service representatives who will provide advice on making your home safe from fire, help with planning escape routes and install new smoke alarms, with 10-year batteries, where needed.

Vital fire role 'played down' | This is South Wales Fire chiefs have been accused of "playing down" the vital role of Llanelli firefighters in tackling the Asda supermarket blaze. According to the Fire Brigades Union, the fire — which resulted in 85 people being evacuated from the smoke-filled store — could well have had "devastating consequences" if it were not for their swift action. In an exclusive statement to the Llanelli Star, an FBU spokesman said crews at Llanelli had "expressed anger and dismay" at a high ranking manager's remarks praising the store's sprinklers for containing the blaze, with no mention of the actions of firefighters involved.