Saturday, 7 August 2010 4.43pm - Uploaded- 9.28
 
FOUR LOCAL TEENAGERS SERIOUSLY INJURED IN WISBOROUGH GREEN CRASH
 
Police are appealing for witnesses after a crash occurred at 4.43pm today - Saturday, 7 August on Kirdford Road, junction with Loxwood Road, Wisborough Green. The crash involved a red Vauxhall Corsa and a white flat bed 7.5 tonne HGV.

Four people in the Corsa - two local women aged 16 & 18 and two local men aged 18 and 16 -
sustained serious injuries.

Four air ambulances were deployed to the scene and three of the occupants were taken by air ambulances to hospitals in London and Essex. Their injuries are described as life threatening.

The 4th person - an 18 year old girl - was taken to Worthing Hospital with serious injuries.

The driver of the HGV, a 71 year old man from Ashington, was unhurt. The road was closed for four hours.

Sussex Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact Road Policing Department at Chichester on 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Nadia

Police are renewing an appeal for witnesses after a 16-year-old from Slinfold sadly died this morning [13 August] following a collision at Wisborough Green on Saturday 7 August.
 
The girl, who died at Queen's Hospital in Romford, Essex, has been named as Kirsty Hicks of Stane Street, and was one of three passengers in a red Vauxhall Corsa which collided with a white flat bed 7.5 tonne HGV at 4.43pm on Kirdford Road.
 
An 18-year-old man remains at Kings College Hospital, London, in a critical condition and a 16-year-old boy is in a serious condition at the Royal London Hospital.
 
The 18-year-old woman driver remains in a critical condition at Hurstwood Park Neurological Centre in Haywards Heath.
 
Inspector Phil Nicholas said- "Officers from the Roads Policing Unit are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident and family liaison officers are offering support to the families during this difficult time. As with all road collision, officers have examined the road surface as part of the investigation. This has been ruled out as a contributing factor in this collision."
 
Sussex Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact Road Policing Department at Chichester on 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Nadia.

21 Jan 2011
 
An 18-year-old woman has admitted causing death by careless driving after she lost control of her car and collided with a lorry in Wisborough Green.
 
A passenger in her car, 17-year-old Kirsty Hicks, died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident and two other male passengers received serious head injuries.
 
Miss Stocker pleaded guilty to causing death by careless-inconsiderate driving at Chichester Magistrates’ Court this morning.
She will appear at Chichester Crown Court on February 21 to be sentenced.

Uploaded- Thursday 22 July 2010 - 9.17 - online time 9.22
 
FIREFIGHTERS CALLED AFTER ICE BLOCK SMASHES THROUGH CHICHESTER COUPLE'S ROOF
 
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, more accustomed to extinguishing fires, came to the aid of a Chichester couple in the early hours of this morning after a huge block of ice crashed through their roof as they slept.
 
Firefighters from Red Watch in Chichester were called at 1.42 this morning after the block of ice, believed to have fallen from an aircraft, smashed a 2ft hole through the second floor flat roof at Summerdale Court in Chichester.
 
Flat owner Vince Foot and his wife were fast asleep when they were woken by an almighty crash. A stunned Mr Foot described what happened:
 
I was woken by an unbelievable bang. I thought at first it was thunder and I got up to investigate. I tried to open the spare bedroom door and it wouldn’t move. When I forced it open I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. There was an enormous hole in both the roof and the bedroom ceiling and there were great chunks of ice everywhere.
 
My wife and I are in a state of shock, but we also feel like we’ve had a lucky escape. The ice smashed through the room our grandchildren sleep in when they visit, which is a terrifying thought. It is such a freak incident, but it could have been so much worse. Tiles and roof debris have been scattered nearly 30 feet so I don’t want to imagine the force with which it hit.
 
Mr Foot was also quick to praise the fire crew who attended, The firefighters were brilliant, they put a temporary cover over the hole and were very reassuring.
 
Red Watch Manager Pete Windsor said:
 
This is one of the strangest incidents we've been called to, we are just relieved that nobody was hurt and that we were able to offer them some assistance. They have had a miraculous escape really.

Date Uploaded- Thursday 27 May 2010 12.37 - online time 13.44
 
ONGOING FIRE AT FORD MATERIALS RECYCLING FACILITY
 
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is currently in attendance at a fire in the plastics recycling facility at the Ford Materials Recycling Centre at Ford
 
The first call to the fire service was received at 12.37 hrs and the first attendance was 2 fire engines from Littlehampton.
 
The 1st message on arrival stated that smoke was issuing and requested that the pumps attending should be made up to 6.
 
The latest informative that came through at 12.55 stated that the fire is in the single storey building 100m x 40m, involving the plastics recycling section.
 
4 Breathing Apparatus, 3 Hose Reels and covering foam are in use

Date Added- Saturday 8th May 2010 0915 - online time 10.03am
 
SEVEN PEOPLE TRAPPED BY FLAT FIRE - WORTHING
 
Six adults and a baby have been rescued by firefighters after becoming trapped by a fire in their flats in Worthing.
 
The Command & Mobilising Centre of West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service was called to the flats above a hairdressers shop in Crescent Rd, Worthing at 4am this morning, Saturday 8th May.
 
A smoke alarm had alerted the occupants of a third floor flat, but they were unable to get out because of the smoke and heat in the communal hallway.
 
Smoke was coming into their flat, and calling 999 for help they were given fire survival guidance by a Control Operator.
 
She advised them to close doors, put towels or bedding around the door to stop smoke coming in, and get to an open window at the front of the property where they could be seen by firefighters.
 
The Control Operator then stayed on the phone until the firefighters arrived, talking calming and reassuring them help was on its way.
 
Crews from Worthing Fire Station arrived within 6 minutes, and could see the male and female trapped at the window.
 
Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the ground floor to tackle the fire, with the whole of the hallway heavily smoke-logged. They found the seat of the fire in a cupboard containing the main electrical consumer unit.
 
Occupants of the flats on the first and second floor were woken by the noise and appeared at their windows, still trapped by the heat and smoke in the hallway and stairs.
 
Firefighters outside gave them the same advice about closing doors and blocking smoke with bedding, and to stay at the window where they could see them.
 
The fire was extinguished and the smoke cleared by using a large positive pressure ventilation fan.
 
One further adult was located in a ground floor flat, apparently unaware of the drama unfolding outside her flat!
 
All the residents were then led to safety by firefighters, with some of them being assessed by paramedics. One male and one female, both in their 20’s were then taken to hospital suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.
 
The Red Cross Fire Emergency Support Service, staffed by Red Cross volunteers, attended to provide assistance and temporary welfare facilities to all the displaced residents.
 
The main electrical supply to the building had to be isolated by EDF, and Worthing Borough Council has put some residents up in temporary accommodation, with others going to family or friends.
 
Crew Commander Adie Carter from Worthing Fire Station, who was in charge of the first crews to arrive, said it was fortunate the smoke alarm woke the occupants of the top flat.
 
"If fire starts and goes undetected, smoke builds up and you are in danger of being overcome as you sleep. You may wake up in a smoke filled room coughing and unable to breathe, and then find yourself unable to escape because your escape route - normally your stairs or hallway - is blocked or impassable because of the fire and smoke.
 
"Give yourself a chance. Make sure you have smoke alarms fitted. They cost as little as £5 and could one day save your life."
 
For free home fire safety advice please contact your local fire station, call 0800 328 6487, or visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/fire

Date Added- Friday 7 May 2010 - online time 11.24am
 
Motorcyclist killed after hitting cars near Harting
 
A motorcyclist has died after an accident at Nursted this morning. The motorcyclist was travelling along the B2146 between South Harting and Petersfield when he collided with two cars at approximately 10.05 to 10.10am
 
The man, in his 30s and from Worthing, was in the company of a group of motorcyclists, when it appears he lost control of his Kawasaki bike on a corner and collided with a VW Passat and a Peugeot 405. He died at the scene.
 
The road was closed to enable medical, recovery and investigative work to take place and also for repairs to be made to the road following fuel spillage.
 
The car drivers, both from Petersfield, were uninjured, but were treated for shock.
 
 
notes----
The road was still closed at 3pm.
 
Police are appealing for any witnesses to the collision or who may have seen any of the vehicles involved in the area in the time leading up to it to contact 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Shortland.

Date Added- Monday 3 May 2010
 
Byworth Man dies in A272 crash near Petworth
 
A 24 year old driver died and his two passengers were taken to hospital with injuries after an accident near Tillington.
The driver, Thomas Hoare, of Stopham Bridge Lane, Byworth, near Petworth, lost control of his silver Volkswagen Golf while travelling east along the A272 just after midnight. Initial reports indicate Mr. Hoare was thrown from the vehicle. The incident occured near the junction of New Road and the A272, west of Tillington.
His 15 year old sister, also from Byworth, was taken with injuries to St Richard's Hospital at Chichester.
Another passenger, a 24 year old man from Holmbush, Midhurst, was slightly injured.
 

 
Police are appealing for witnesses.
 Anyone with any information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting Operation Caledon.
 
related or associated :-
Emergency services report
return to police appeal
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AWAITING DPO ARCHIVE

Date Added- Saturday March 27th 2010 - online 10:20am
Press Officer- Gary Towson
 
FIRE AT WORTHING HOSPITAL
A fire has badly damaged the staff canteen at Worthing Hospital this morning, but the canteen is in a separate block from the main hospital building and no patients were affected.
 
Although described as 'serious' the fire was quickly brought under control and the incident was scaled down within an hour.
 
The fire started just before 8am in kitchen on the first floor as catering staff were cooking breakfasts. It is believed to have started in a fat fryer before spreading through ducting and skylight vents to affect the roof.
 
The first fire crews described seeing thick black smoke pouring from the roof as they approached. They sent an assistance message 'make pumps 8' as it was feared the fire was spreading to include the whole of the first floor and roof. The building is being renovated and is temporarily covered with scaffolding and plastic sheeting.
 
Firefighting teams of breathing apparatus wearers made their way to the first floor where they found the whole of the canteen area heavily smoke logged down to just a few inches above the floor. The kitchen area was well alight, and as they began to tackle that fire with hose reels, further crews made use of the scaffolding and made access to the roof to stop the fire spreading.
 
Thanks to their actions the fires were quickly brought under control and extinguished.
 
Fire crews were keen to ensure that disruption was kept to a minimum and it is 'business as normal' for patients, staff and visitors. They are still at the scene assisting with salvage and fire investigation but expect to leave soon.
 
An emergency management team from Worthing Hospital is now working to reinstate catering services that were affected.
 
 
 
 
 
AWAITING DPO ARCHIVE

Friday 12th March 2010 online time - 16 : 52
 
SERIOUS HOUSE FIRE IN WEST CHILTINGTON
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service is currently tackling a blaze in the first floor and roof area of a large detached house in
Coolham Rd, West Chiltington.
 
The call was received from the owner of the house just after 3.30 pm this afternoon with fire crews from Storrington first to arrive on the scene. Ten appliances are now in attendance with crews from across the county tackling the blaze.
There are no reported injuries – the four occupants were able to leave the house unharmed before the arrival of the Fire Service.
 
The B2139 has been temporarily closed while the incident is ongoing.

HOUSE FIRE NEAR WEST CHILTINGTON - UPDATE Firefighting operations are being scaled down at the scene of a serious house fire near West Chiltington.
Ten fire engines were mobilised shortly after 3:30pm to the detached house in Coolham Rd. The owner and three other adult occupiers had managed to escape safely prior to the arrival of firefighters from nearby Storrington, and thankfully there are no reports of any injuries.
 
The fire is believed to have broken out in an area on the ground floor close to the main electrical intake, before spreading rapidly to involve the whole of the first floor and roof space.
 
When firefighters arrived, smoke was pouring from the roof and flames shooting from windows at the front and back of the property. Teams of breathing apparatus wearers entered the house but faced a severe fire with intense heat as they made their way up the stairs. The fire was knocked down but teams were then forced to withdraw as the ceilings began to collapse.
 
Crews then commenced defensive firefighting operations and salvaged valuables and personal belongings for the owner.
A specialist water carrier has been used to supply a temporary dam and give a constant water supply for firefighting.
The fire is out although there remains a number of 'hotspots' in voids with difficult access and crews are expected to remain in attendance overnight.
 
EDF energy has isolated the electrical supply, and the B2139 remains closed at Dukes Hill between Thakeham and West Chiltington Rd. A Building Control Officer from Horsham District Council has also attended to advise on the stability of the premises.

click for information

USERS of open fires and wood burners are being warned about the dangers of chimney fires by West Sussex County Council Fire and Rescue Service.
 
The warning follows a sharp rise in the number of chimney fires attended by firefighters across the county over the last few days.
 
Peter Evans, County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection, said: "As the cold weather continues to bite, open fires are a cosy way to keep out the winter chill. But they can become a serious safety hazard if simple guidelines are not followed."
 
Community Fire Safety Officer Jackie Boyle said: "Chimney fires are one of the most common incidents we attend. Many properties have lost the roof, first floor or in some cases been completely destroyed.
 
"It is very important that anyone planning to light their fire gets their chimney checked and swept. The consequence of a chimney fire isn’t just the damage caused by the fire, there’s the dirt and smell from the soot and smoke, which can affect all of your personal property."
The Fire and Rescue Service’s chimney safety advice is:
Have your chimney swept at least once a year – and at least twice a year if you burn wood.
When burning wood, use dry, seasoned woods only.
Build smaller, hotter fires that burn more completely and produce less smoke.
Never burn cardboard boxes or waste paper.
Do not overload the grate or appliance.
Use a fire or spark guard to prevent accidental fires.
Inspect your chimneybreast, particularly in the roof space. Make sure that it is sound and that the sparks or fumes cannot escape through cracks or broken bricks.
Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
Ensure wood burners are installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Make sure you have a working smoke alarm – early detection can save lives.
 
To find out the contact for your local chimney sweep,
contact the National Association of Chimney Sweeps on free phone 0800 833464.
 
More on chimney fires - incident reports - Fire service index

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, in addition to providing their normal emergency service, have been out and about in West Sussex helping to support the well-being of the more vulnerable members of the community.
 
Firefighters from Chichester and Haywards Heath have been rolling up their sleeves and brandishing their shovels at local hospitals - St. Richards and the Princess Royal – helping to clear essential pathways for patients and visitors.
 
Fighfighters in Haywards Heath have also been assisting the local WRVS to maintain its Meals On Wheels service, transporting workers in Fire Service Super ‘G’ 4x4s at the same time taking the opportunity to offer fire safety advice to residents in their homes during the extreme weather.
 
The Fire Service’s Technical Rescue Unit, have also been out and about – after localised power cuts in Lancing, members of the TRU have been door knocking in the local area, again offering informal home fire safety advice and fitting smoke alarms where needed.
 
WSF&RS are also urging walkers to avoid icy ponds and waterways and keep close control over their pets after a dog fell through the ice into Mill Pond in Crawley yesterday.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is urging people to call a plumber rather than the emergency services if their water pipes burst during the icy weather conditions. With further snowfall expected in parts of the county, WSF&RS has today issued a reminder that emergency calls for police, fire and ambulance services should be made in genuine emergency situations only.
 
Inconvenience and damage as a result of burst pipes is a real possibility, as icy winds force temperatures lower. When pipes do burst, residents are urged to call a plumber or tradesman rather than the emergency services - providing their life is not in danger. But if electrical appliances are involved and the situation is at all risky, the advice is to call 999.
 
Jackie Boyle, Community Fire & Road Safety Officer at West Sussex Fire and Rescue, said: "The challenging weather conditions are placing extra demands upon all of the emergency services and people can do their bit to help us, and their own communities, by dialling 999 only in a genuine emergency.
 
Burst pipes happen when freezing temperatures cause the ground in which the water mains are buried to move, putting pressure on the pipes and fracturing them. It’s crucial that people know where their stopcock is, and that they try it to make sure it hasn’t seized up. You should find this under the kitchen sink, or where the service pipe enters your home. If a pipe bursts, turn off the stopcock and central heating boiler and call a plumber.
 
Inevitably, problems will also occur when the thaw begins so we urge people to make regular checks on their home when temperatures start to rise again. That way any leaks can be spotted early and stopped, as frozen water in undetected burst pipes starts to thaw. Prevention is far better than cure though, and taking just a few simple steps will significantly reduce the risk of frozen and burst pipes within the home. Consider looking up the contact numbers of plumbers and electricricians so you have them available in an emergency".
 
West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service offers the following advice to keep your home's water supply running smoothly and help prevent your pipes from freezing: