 | click for
Fire Service index |
 |
click for
Police Index |
The Rother Valley
West Sussex, England News reports 2011 [part] |
| directories | police | Rother valley trail | photo galleries | Vintage Trail | local travel | fire service | schools | pubs | BB | churches | railways past | contact | more |
|
Mans body found in Rother November 2011 Reports are being received that the body of a man who went missing from the North Mill area of Midhurst has been found in the River Rother. Police began searching for him on Monday evening [31 Oct] and a Police helicopter was deployed at 20.20 to help in the search, reporting no trace. The helicopter was also deployed the next day. The man, who is believed to be from Harting, was discovered Tuesday 01 Nov. Detectives launch murder investigation Monday 17 Oct 2011 source- Surrey Police Detectives have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of a body in woodland near Lurgashall in West Sussex. Officers from Surrey Police were called shortly before 11:30pm yesterday [Sunday, 16 October] to a report of a concern for safety. Following enquiries, officers attended an address in West Street, Haslemere and then Blackdown Woods near Lurgashall where a search of the woodland led to the discovery of the body of a woman in her thirties. Police have cordoned off the area of woodland and forensic officers are on site carrying out enquiries. The woman has not yet been formally identified. A 35-year-old man from Haslemere has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident and remains in police custody. A post mortem examination has been scheduled to take place tomorrow afternoon at the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford. Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey Police by calling 101 - Ends - UPDATE 
A former detective has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a policewoman's body was discovered in woodland. The 35-year-old man, from Haslemere in Surrey, is believed to be the victim's partner. Following enquiries, officers searched Blackdown Woods near Lurgashall. There they discovered the body of a woman in her 30s. The area has been cordoned off while further investigations are carried out. The policewoman has not yet been formally identified. - Ends - UPDATE 18 Oct 2011 Police appeal for sightings of silver BMW Detectives investigating the murder of woman whose body was found in woodland near Lurgashall, West Sussex, in the early hours of yesterday morning are appealing for information which could assist them. Officers are keen to hear from anyone who may have seen a silver BMW estate in the area of West Street, Haslemere, and Tennyson’s Lane near the Blackdown Woods car park between the hours of 11am and 11pm on Sunday, 16 October. Detective Chief Inspector Nick May, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “We are continuing work to build up a picture of events on Sunday and I am urging anyone who may have seen this vehicle during that day in these locations to contact police. Your information could prove vital.” Anyone with information should contact Surrey Police by calling 101 - Ends - FURTHER UPDATE 18 Oct 2011 Police have been given an extra 36 hours to question a former police detective arrested on suspicion of murder. Peter Foster, 35, a former detective with Surrey Police was arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of his partner, and policewoman Heather Cooper, 33, was found on Sunday (October 16) at Blackdown Woods near Lurgashall. The 35-year-old of West Street, Haslemere is believed now to be a heating engineer after leaving Surrey Police around two years ago. Miss Cooper had given birth to her second child about a month ago and believed she was still on maternity leave. UPDATE 19 Oct 2011 A female police detective whose body was found in woodland near Lurgashall died from a blow to the head and a stab wound to the throat, police said today. The post-mortem results for Detective Constable Heather Cooper came as police revealed that a baseball bat and a knife were found at the home of the mother-of-two in West Street, Haslemere, Surrey. Her partner, Peter Foster, a former police detective, was arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in custody. A Surrey Police spokeswoman said- "A post-mortem examination has given a preliminary cause of death in the investigation into the murder of Surrey Police detective Heather Cooper". The body of the 33-year-old was discovered in Blackdown Woods near Lurgashall, after concerns were raised for her safety on Sunday night. Mother-of-two Miss Cooper joined Surrey Police eight years ago and in 2009 was given a commendation by the force in recognition of her 'professionalism, dedication and commitment'. She was on maternity leave at the time of her death. Police cordoned off the area of National Trust woodland where her body was found while forensic officers carried out their investigations. The detached house in Haslemere, Surrey, where Miss Cooper lived was also cordoned off as teams examined the property. Dominique Chapman, 44, who lives opposite the couple, said- "They were a very close family, they went out as a family, at the weekends - they have two small children. Heather did not come from round here but Peter did, they had only been living here for about a year - I cannot believe this has happened." Woman killed in Rogate accident Published on Friday 9 September 2011 11:28 A woman died yesterday afternoon after being crushed by a car at Rogate. The Kent Surrey and Sussex air ambulance was alerted at 4.20pm and paramedics were rushed to her aid. But the lady, in her 70s, died at the scene of the accident. SEVEN RESCUED IN LITTLEHAMPTON FLATS FIRE uploaded on Saturday 3rd Sept 2011 - 10am Firefighters have rescued seven adults and a dog after fire broke out in the stairwell of their flats in Littlehampton early this morning. Three people were treated for smoke inhalation and one of them was taken to hospital. Five calls were made to Command & Mobilising Centre of West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service this morning shortly after 5am. Residents had been woken by the fire alarm sounding but several of the callers said they were trapped in their flats and unable to get out because of the heat and thick black smoke in the communal staircase. The premises are a four storey terraced building in South Terrace on Littlehampton seafront which have been converted into flats with a single staircase. Callers also informed Fire Control Operators whereabouts in the building they were trapped so this information could be passed on to the crews who were attending. When the first crew from Littlehampton arrived they were faced with an elderly lady on a first floor balcony and a male on the roof, and crew members who went to the rear of the property found two males, two females and a dog perched on a first floor roof. Additional crews were requested including an Aerial Ladder Platform [ALP] from Worthing. Fire crews forced an entry through the communal front door and breathing apparatus crews began to search for further casualties and tackle the fire. The four people and dog at the rear of the property were rescued via ladder, and the man trapped on the roof was rescued from the roof by the ALP. Two other residents were led to safety once smoke had cleared. The fire was located in the basement level of the staircase and extinguished but it had caused extensive smoke damage throughout the staircase. The cause is now being investigated although it is believed to have started in the basement area of the staircase close to a rear door, and accidental ignition by smoking materials has not been ruled out. FUEL DEPOT FIRE NEAR BILLINGSHURST - UPDATE uploaded on Saturday 20th August 2011 The fire which broke out at a fuel depot near Billingshurst last night is now out. More than 50 firefighters worked through the night to tackle the blaze, which broke out at Four Seasons Farm in Coneyhurst just before 10pm last night [August 19]. A 600-metre cordon was put in place and 30 people were evacuated to Billingshurst village Hall, which had been opened up as a rest centre by Horsham District Council. All residents have now safely returned to their homes and firefighters have reduced the cordon around the scene to 200-metres. A section of the A272 falls within the cordon, as do a number of smaller, local roads and these will stay closed until fire officers are happy that any danger posed has been removed. It is expected that the cordon will remain in place for the rest of Saturday and possibly, into Sunday. Diversions are in place. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service's Deputy District Commander for Horsham, Steve Clack, said- "The first crews on the scene were faced with a significant and well developed fire so an immediate decision was made, working with Sussex Police, to set up a safety cordon to ensure public and firefighter safety. Crews have made steady progress throughout the night and I'm pleased to say that the fire is now out. "We anticipate that fire crews will remain in attendance throughout the day to assist the Fire Investigation Officers as their investigation into the cause of this fire can now begin." Inspector Paul Williams, from Sussex Police, said- "This has obviously caused major disruption and upheaval and I should like to thank everyone affected for their co-operation and patience. Thankfully, nobody has been injured in this incident and people have now returned safely to their homes." West Sussex school strike information uploaded on Monday 27 June 2011 Teachers in West Sussex are planning to strike on Thursday, June 30. Many schools have already announced they plan to close, or partially close, for the day. West Sussex County Council has launched a website to advise parents on school closures. The industrial action will be led by the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers. Date Added- Saturday 12th March 2011 - 11.29am WEST SUSSEX FIREFIGHTERS FLY TO HELP JAPANESE RESCUE MISSION West Sussex firefighters have now been mobilised as part of the UK response to help victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. The scale of the damage and destruction is still emerging and the Japanese government has this morning formally requested assistance from the UK to help with search and rescue operations. Six members of West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service's Technical Rescue Unit [TRU] are currently on enroute to RVP at Manchester Airport, and will be part of a 60+ team of doctors and firefighters from West Midlands, Kent, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Mid and West Wales, Lincolnshire, and Hampshire. A flight is being chartered by DFID [Department for International Development], and they hope to take off between 1500-1600hrs this afternoon. The TRU are based at Horley Fire Station, but its members live across West Sussex. The members on this deployment are Peter and Brian were part of the TRU team that only returned on Tuesday from the New Zealand earthquake. Two overseas deployments in such a short space of time is clearly exceptional, but shows the great commitment from the whole of our team to be able to respond anywhere in the world at such short notice, says Sean Ruth, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for West Sussex. 13th March 4.30pm UPDATE ON WEST SUSSEX FIREFIGHTERS IN JAPAN The UK team of firefighters, search dogs, and medical teams have arrived at the US airbase in Misawa, northern Japan, where they will join up with the United States Urban Search & Rescue teams from Fairfax County and Los Angeles County. The UK team includes six members of the West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service Technical Rescue Unit. All team members are fit and well, and eager to play a key role in the international rescue effort. It is now the middle of the night in Japan, and the teams will remain at the airbase overnight and move south at first light and into the main areas of destruction to search for victims of the earthquake and tsunami. 14th March 3pm LATEST UPDATE ON WEST SUSSEX FIREFIGHTERS IN JAPAN Rescue teams from the UK have now reached the Japanese coastal town of Ofunato to begin their search for victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Ofunato is situated on the north-east coast of Japan, approximately 100km north of Sendai, and has a population of 42,000 people. It is in the region that seems to have born the brunt of the tsunami when it struck on Friday. Initial reports indicate widespread destruction and an unknown number of people unaccounted for. There are several large structures intact, and it is hoped search dogs will be highly effective in detecting any signs of life over such a large area. The UK rescue team travelled down from the US military air base at Misawa in convey of 15 vehicles together with Urban Search and Rescue teams from Los Angeles County, and Fairfax County in the United States. The team includes six firefighters from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service's Technical Rescue Unit (TRU), including two of them that only returned from the New Zealand earthquake a few days ago. Ofunato is 130km north of the damaged nuclear plant at Fukushima, and the UK crews are being kept fully informed of events there. There is no known risk from radiation in Ofunato. The six other team members of the TRU that have remained in the UK are working additional shifts to ensure 24hr cover for West Sussex is still available from their base at Horley Fire Station. 17th March 6pm UK FIREFIGHTERS END JAPANESE RESCUE MISSION Japanese authorities coordinating the emergency response to the earthquake and tsunami have reluctantly agreed to end search and rescue operations by the UK-ISAR team. Plans are now being made for the team to withdraw from the disaster hit coastal region of north-east Japan and return home. The UK team includes six firefighters from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. The team have spent the last few days searching coastal towns of Ofunato and Kamaishi. Despite an extensive search of residential and industrial properties, no survivors have been found. Heavy snow and falling temperatures a week after the start of the disaster mean there is now is an extremely low chance of finding survivors. The UK-ISAR team has been working closely with colleagues from Fairfax County and Los Angeles County from the USA and the joint UK/US team is now returning to the US Air Base at Misawi. The return of the UK team is being organised by DFID, the Government Department for International Development. A statement from Andrew Mitchell, the Secretary of State at DFID said: We are all extremely proud of the work of the UK Fire and Rescue team. Sadly, the chance of them finding further survivors is now extremely low and so their specialist skills are no longer necessary in Japan. We have therefore agreed with the Japanese authorities that we will withdraw our team. I am proud that despite very difficult conditions, the UK Fire and Rescue Service's dedication and professionalism was able to help Japan in its hour of need. The role of ISAR teams is search and rescue of live casualties, and once it has been determined likely that all live casualties have been recovered the ISAR teams withdraw so they don’t become an extra drain on local resources" added Lee Neale, Assistant Chief Officer for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service. They are self-sufficient in terms of food and water etc, so once their role is complete they are also able to leave any unused supplies to other agencies or local people. All team members remain fit and well, and have coped with the conditions. They have been kept fully informed of the ongoing situation at the Fukushima nuclear plant, but the areas where they have been working have not been at risk of contamination. The team could arrive in the UK over the weekend. Further details will follow once they have been confirmed by DFID. return to previous page Date Added- 4th March 2011, 10.30pm FIRE IN CHICHESTER CITY CENTRE Firefighters from both Hampshire & West Sussex are tackling a fire that has broke out above shops in the centre of Chichester. West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service were called shortly before 9pm to a maisonette above the Fat Face store in East St, Chichester. The property consists of two storeys and an attic, above a ground floor shop. The occupiers had been alerted by a smoke alarm and found the problem to be a fire in the electrical intake on the first floor. When fire crews arrived they found the blaze spreading to the upper floors and roof space via voids and service ducts. Teams of breathing apparatus wearers tackled the fire from inside to try and prevent it spreading to the roof space of neighbouring properties. An Aerial Ladder Platform was mobilised from Worthing to provide a working platform for firefighters to tackle the fire from above. A total of 12 fire engines attended to ensure there were enough breathing apparatus teams and sufficient water supplies from nearby hydrants to stop the fire spreading. There was a small amount of smoke damage to adjoining properties. The fire broke out through the roof and further tiles were removed to allow the smoke and heat to ventilate which reduced the threat of a lateral fire spread along the roof void. The incident is ongoing but the fire is under control. Fire crews and Police will be in attendance through the night, using relief crews from stations across the county. They are being supported by Red Cross volunteers who are supplying refreshments. No one has been reported injured, although the damage to the maisonette is substantial. return to previous page Date Added: 21st November 2010 FATAL FIRE IN YAPTON One person has died in a fire at a mobile home park in Yapton this afternoon. West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service was called to Woodlands Park, on Main Road, Yapton shortly before 4pm and mobilised fire crews from Littlehampton, Arundel and Bognor. Firefighters arrived to find the property heavily smoke logged and teams of breathing apparatus wearers located an elderly male in the lounge area. The fire was extinguished with two high-pressure hose reels. Fire officers and police have begun an investigation into how the fire started. Arson is not suspected. Emergency services incident report return to previous page 14th October 2010 - incident time- 06.27 online time - 09.16 MAN FOUND DEAD IN FLAT FIRE IN CHICHESTER A man has been found dead by firefighters attending a flat fire in Chichester this morning. West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service were called to a block of flats in Bradshaw Rd in Chichester at 06.27 this morning after the alarm was raised by neighbours seeing smoke and flames issuing from the window of the 1st floor flat. Two fire engines from Chichester were in attendance just five minutes later and very quickly brought the fire under control with a crew using hose reels to fight the fire through the window and a further crew gaining entry through the flat door. On entering the flat firefighters found a male casualty on the floor, but unfortunately the man was already deceased. No other flats were affected by the fire but a precautionary evacuation of the three storey block was carried out and affected residents are being looked after by Hyde Martlett Housing Association. Fire Investigation Officers are currently at the scene working alongside Police Scene of Crime Officers to establish the cause of the fire - at this stage arson is not suspected. Emergency services incident report & photo return to previous page AWAITING DPO OR ARCHIVE
Fire Brigade Incident report UPDATE 13 AUGUST 2010 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.
UPDATE 21 JAN 2011 21 Jan 2011
all below archived AWAITING DPO ARCHIVE
Incident report photos
Incident report
related or associated :- Emergency services incident reports Fire service index
Friday 12th March 2010
online time - 16 : 52
12th March 22 : 00hrs UPDATE
HOUSE FIRE NEAR WEST CHILTINGTON - UPDATE
END Date Added: 29th December 2009 08:30 am LOSS OF ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO AREA SOUTH OF A272 & MIDHURST Midhurst and Petworth Fire Brigades were called to Selham at 8.35 am today when reports were received of an electricity pole and transformer in Selham Lane being on fire. Both the transformer and pole were destroyed in the blaze. Power supplies to the area were disrupted for some time after the supply was isolated by Southern Electric for repairs and replacement. view fire brigade report Date Added: 6th October 2009 08:30 am FATAL HOUSE FIRE IN BOGNOR An elderly female has been found dead at a house fire in Bognor. The Fire & Rescue Service was called to a semi-detached house in the Hawthorn Road area of Bognor shortly after 7pm last night [Monday 5.10.2009]. The fire was confined to just one room and is believed to have happened sometime in the previous two days before burning itself out. The next-of-kin have not yet been informed, and further details may be released once this has taken place. UPDATE ON FATAL HOUSE FIRE IN BOGNOR - 6th October 1pm The victim of a fatal house fire in Bognor has now been confirmed as a 97 year old female. She was discovered by a friend who had called to check on her welfare shortly before 7pm on Monday 5th October. Emergency services were then called to semi-detached house in Gravitts Lane, Bognor and found her in a smoke-damaged ground floor room at the rear of the property. The fire is believed to have happened in the previous 24 hours and then burnt itself out. There are no suspicious circumstances, and the death appears to be a tragic accident. The house was fitted with two working smoke alarms correctly fitted in the hallway and first floor landing, but the fire was contained to just the room where the casualty was found with the door closed. Initial reports from Fire Investigation Officers suggest the fire made have been started by a candle. The lady will not formally be identified until Wednesday 7th. MIDHURST BOMB SCARE Tuesday 14 July 2009 report 10.22 am Reports are coming of a bomb scare at Midhurst Police Station. Parts of the town have been cordoned off and nearby premises evacuated. 6 fire appliances in attendance ongoing update 2pm all roads open - Fire service stood down updated Fire Brigade report Time- 10.16-13.18 Location- MIDHURST POLICE STATION - BEPTON ROAD, MIDHURST Incident- A canister was delivered through the letterbox of Midhurst police station - as a precautionary measure WSF&RS were called and area cordoned off - canister was examined by police and WSF&RS and deemed non hazardous. Fire service incident reports Police incident reports - - Fire service index page - - Police index |
|
Gravelroots is a locally operated website based at Heyshott in the Rother valley, West Sussex, England.
Information and images are updated throughout this site on a constant daily basis. If you regularly use or have visited these pages previously remember to refresh the pages for any new entries...Refresh page If you came to these pages looking for specific information and were unable to find it, please let us know. |
|
Part of the Rother Valley Guide by Gravelroots
Searching for something specific, use the indexes This site is best viewed in 1024 x 768 using Internet Explorer |
