COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (109) issued by COI News Distribution
Service on 8 May 2009
The outstanding
bravery of firefighters was recognised at the Firefighters'
Charity 'Spirit of Fire Awards 2009'.
The award for the bravest firefighter in England, Ireland,
Scotland or Wales who has shown extreme bravery and outstanding
courage over and beyond the call of duty went jointly to
colleagues Ian Tape and Grant Baugh from South Yorkshire Fire and
Rescue Service.
The courageous firefighters dragged an unconscious woman from a
ferociously blazing house and then went back in believing that
others were trapped, but were then themselves engulfed in flames
from an explosion.
Fire Minister Sadiq Khan presented the Firefighters
Charity's Award for the Bravest Firefighter alongside former
French international and ex-Spurs and Newcastle footballer David Ginola.
The recipients of the award for the Bravest Firefighter were
chosen by readers of the Sun newspaper's website.
Fire Minister Sadiq Khan said:
"It was truly humbling to
hear of the bravery and fortitude of those nominated for this
award. I would also like to pay tribute to them and their
colleagues for their quick thinking, ingenuity and sheer
determination in helping to save the lives of the public and their
colleagues. I feel very honoured to have been asked to present the
award for the bravest firefighter.
The award to the member of the fire services community who has
shown strength of character when injured went to Steve Morris of
Bolton, Greater Manchester FRS. The burns Steve survived during a
fire were very severe and he received a standing ovation as he
walked slowly towards the stage. He was also a nominee in the
bravest firefighter category.
All the nominees for the Firefighters Charity's Awards went
to a reception at No 10 Downing Street, hosted by Prime Minister
Gordon Brown and attended by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears
and Fire Minister Sadiq Khan and David Ginola.
Notes to editors
1. The Bravest Firefighter Award went to Ian Tape and Grant Baugh
(South Yorkshire FRS) who were two of 30 firefighters attending a
ferocious house fire in Rotherham. They had already helped drag
one unconscious woman from the blaze, but neighbours were
convinced there were others caught inside the house and so Ian
Tape and Grant Baugh went back in despite the dangers. Inside the
kitchen, having checked no one else was trapped, the pair found
themselves engulfed in flames by a sudden explosion and the only
door out was jammed shut by the blast. Both Ian and Grant feared
the worst until Ian managed to smash a window and get out,
fetching help for Grant who had been unable to follow. Both
sustained terrible injuries. Ian Tape suffered horrific burns
over more than a third of his body and spent more than two months
receiving skin graft operations in hospital before he was allowed
his first home visit. Grant Baugh suffered 12 per cent burns and
was in hospital for more than a fortnight. Despite their
courageous efforts the woman who was pulled from the blaze died in hospital.
Other nominees for the Bravest Firefighter Award
a) Jason Mayhew (Evesham), Steve Perks (Kidderminster) and Dave
Iles (Hereford) Hereford and Worcestershire FRS arrived at the
scene of an incident they were faced with a possible fatality but
also 'live' electricity cables close by. The driver of a
digger had been shocked with 11,000 volts after the metal grab of
his vehicle had accidentally touched overhead power lines. He had
suffered extensive burns and a heart attack and electricity was
still passing through the digger close to where he lay, presenting
a severe risk to the firefighters who were first on the scene.
Both firefighters initially though the digger driver was dead
until they soon realised this was not the case. They set about
massaging the man's heart and administering oxygen until
medics arrived, just feet from the digger and the damaged
electricity cables. They succeeded in bringing him back to life
before he was flown to hospital by air ambulance.
b) Alex Sugden and Steve Morris (Bolton) Greater Manchester
FRS.
The blaze raging through a family house had killed one
71-year-old woman and would claim the life of her four-year-old
granddaughter six weeks later in hospital, but the death toll
could have been much higher but for the bravery of firefighters on
the scene. Steve Morris had made his way to the top floor of the
house to save a 24-year-old woman when he became engulfed in a
fireball which left him trapped. Steve Morris managed to escape
with the woman, but he had suffered horrendous 50 per cent burns
to his back, lower legs and hands and as a result spent 9 months
in hospital. Steve was also nominated for another courage
category in the Awards.
Meanwhile, on the first floor, two other firefighters and a small
child were trapped by flames in a rear room with a locked
double-glazed window. Outside, crew commander Alex Sugden tried
to reach the window with a ladder but it would only reach to just
above the downstairs window. He grabbed a spade, climbed up the
ladder as far as he could and swung the spade above his head to
smash the glass, then grabbed the child and rescued her. Alex then
balanced the ladder on his thighs to lift it high enough for his
two colleagues to scramble down despite the burns to their hands
and arms.
2. Firefighters Charity's beneficiary of courage (awarded to
a member of the fire services community who has shown strength of
character when injured or ill or bad fortune) Steve Bolton,
Bolton, Greater Manchester - also a nominee for bravest
firefighter category.
Other nominees:
James Fallon, Renfrewshire, Scotland
Dave
Fenton, Worcester
Andy Jacks, Merseyside
3. Firefighters Charity Brigade of the Year, awarded to the FRS
which has been the most supportive of the charity in terms of fund
raising per person, went to Hampshire FRS.
Other nominees:
Dumfries & Galloway FRS
Isle of Man
FRS
Lincolnshire FRS
4. Firefighters Charity station of the year, awarded to the
station that has performed its rescue duties with outstanding
dedication and supported the fire services community through the
charity, went to Kelso Fire Station, Roxburghshire, Scotland.
Other nominees:
Bolton Fire Station, Greater Manchester
FRS
Broughton Fire station, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
FRS
Tobermory Fire Station, Isle of Mull, Scotland
Photographs and further information
Fire Fighters Charity PR
Manager Alison White awhite@firefighterscharity.org.uk, Tel: 01256
366566, http://www.firefighterscharity.org.uk
Media Enquiries: 020 7944 3288
Email:
press.office@communities.gsi.gov.uk
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom