logo
Jersey Fire Service plea for empty island properties to train in

Jersey Fire Service plea for empty island properties to train in

BBC News11-06-2025
Jersey Fire and Rescue Service (JFRS) is looking for empty properties on the island where it can practice firefighting techniques.The service said it wanted to train in empty domestic or commercial properties periodically to keep the training as "realistic as possible".While the fire service had a designated "hot house" for training purposes, it said the site was used for close quarters training and did not represent the majority of its call outs. A JFRS spokesperson said training in environments the firefighters were unfamiliar with improved their search techniques and prepared them for emergencies.
JFRS said it had been regularly training in various property development sites or hotels during their off season but needed new locations for the summer months."By training in the same venue it becomes muscle memory as opposed to utilising effective search techniques," it said. "If someone has an empty property and they would be willing to allow the service to use it, we would appreciate that assistance.The JFRS added that the smoke used for the training was cosmetic and did not leave any lasting damage to properties. Anyone with an empty property who was willing to assist JFRS was asked to contact the service.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Residents back home after Southampton bin fire causes gas leak
Residents back home after Southampton bin fire causes gas leak

BBC News

time5 hours ago

  • BBC News

Residents back home after Southampton bin fire causes gas leak

People have been allowed back into their homes and businesses have reopened after a fire in a bin caused a gas leak in a city fire behind shops on Southampton's High Street broke out on Wednesday at about 19:00 firefighters put out the blaze, they found a gas supply unit had ruptured and worked to help get residents from nearby homes to said engineers quickly isolated the leak by disconnecting the supply. Cordons were lifted and residents were allowed back into their homes at about 23:00. You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.

Haut du Mont: Memorial Garden planned for explosion site
Haut du Mont: Memorial Garden planned for explosion site

BBC News

time9 hours ago

  • BBC News

Haut du Mont: Memorial Garden planned for explosion site

Plans have been unveiled for a memorial garden on the site of a flat explosion in which ten people residents lost their lives when Haut du Mont flats, a three-storey building in St Helier collapsed in December bereaved families, and those who lost their homes in the explosion have been closely involved in the design and features of the garden to be built on Pier Government of Jersey's principal architect, Barry Freeman said it had been a "privilege" to work on the scheme with the loved ones of those who died. 'Heartfelt and important' The Government of Jersey's Principal Architect, Barry Freeman, has been working on the project with the loved ones of those who said: "This is been one of the most heartfelt and important things I have worked on in my 33 year career."Working so closely with those who lost loved ones and those who lost their homes has been a privilege."At the request of the families and former residents, the favourite flowers of those who died, and a separate play area for young children will be included. The garden will feature an area where the names of those who died will be captured on seating, and separate quiet places where people can sit and reflect. Karlene McGinness, whose mother Kathy died following the explosion, said: "Our mum's home always had an incredibly welcoming and warm feel, which was reflective of the loving, happy and caring person that she was."So, it's important to us that the memorial site has personal elements which can reflect the kind of person that she was."Karlene said her mum loved playing with her grandchildren and the garden will be a place the whole family will visit, and where they can share their land on which the memorial and garden is due to be built is owned by the government, while the rest of the site is owned by Andium, who are currently refurbishing the remaining properties.

Why annual hedge cutting in Jersey is a balancing act
Why annual hedge cutting in Jersey is a balancing act

BBC News

time9 hours ago

  • BBC News

Why annual hedge cutting in Jersey is a balancing act

Since 1914, people in Jersey have picked up sickles and strimmers to cut the hedges around their houses. "Branchage" is a legal requirement designed to keep roads as safe as possible, but environmentalists said they were increasingly worried the practice was destroying too much and have called for Stephen Le Quesne said branchage had been completed to varying levels of success, damaging hedges and injuring wildlife, for of St Saviour Kevin Lewis said it was important to maintain road access but added it was difficult to balance the community's competing needs on the issue. What is branchage? Branchage, which literally means branches, is the 111-year-old law that requires land owners or renters in Jersey to cut back any trees, shrubs or grass overhanging roads near their must be a 12ft (3.6m) clearance over main roads and by-roads, and a clearance of 8ft (2.4m) over footpaths. The aim is to make it safer for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to use the officials carry out two inspections, one in late June or early July and another in September, to check branchage has been it is not done properly, parishioners can be fined up to £100 or the parish may arrange for the work to be done and residents to be charged for it. Mr Le Quesne said he believed the island's natural environment has been degraded since the start of branchageHe said hedges being "scalped to the bone" caused environmental loss and risked erosion to old stone walls."You're losing your insect populations, you're losing your flowers, you're losing your biodiversity, you're not allowing flowers and grasses to go through their natural cycles," he suggested creating a network of green lanes across the island with minimal traffic are not cut until August or early said this could be a real boost for tourists visiting the island for its natural beauty and would encourage people to get out more. Lewis said branchage was important to maintain free access to the roads, particularly for bin lorries, tractors and emergency vehicles. He said he agreed with environmental concerns and it was important people did not cut back hedges too tightly, leaving at least 10cm of added he had only seen a few "minor infractions" during his July 2025 inspection and he preferred to issue warnings to residents instead of Government of Jersey advises people should help the environment by cutting with hand tools when possible, allowing pans to set seed if not overhanging, leaving tussocks of vegetation for insects and never carrying out heavy hedge work during bird breeding season between 1March and 31 July.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store