This week saw Four fire engines race to a building fire in Russell Street just off Oxford Road west of Reading. Firefighters from every station across Reading and Wokingham were called for to tackle the blaze in the basement flat, thick black smoke could be seen pouring out from the building. Firefighters used main water jets to tackle fire, fire crews were also wearing BA gear
Fire services will not have enough firefighters to properly respond to incidents during this week’s heatwave, the Fire Brigades Union has warned, as services pleaded with the public to “follow basic fire safety rules”.
Riccardo la Torre, national officer at the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said “severe lack of resources” meant fire services “don’t have the firefighters to relieve the crews on the ground”, meaning they are unable to take breaks for hydration, rest and decontamination.