Praise for Cheshire firefighters

Heavily pregnant Laura Radcliffe, feared that her baby’s pram and other essentials would be destroyed when a fire at a neighbouring bungalow on Copperfield Road in Poynton spread to her roof.

But thoughtful firefighters removed the baby equipment out of harm’s way as they fought the fire at around 6.15pm on Wednesday 16 May.

Fire crews from Poynton, Macclesfield, Bollington and Greater Manchester managed to extinguish the fires at both bungalows without the baby equipment sustaining fire or water damage.

Laura, who is due to give birth in three weeks’ time, wrote to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service to say: “I would like to say a massive thank you to the amazing people you have working there.

“My property has a joining roof which the fire spread some of the way through and your amazing crews managed to salvage most of my things from the property.”

Watch manager Kieran Merriman, of Poynton Fire Station, said: “It is humbling to hear such kind words from Laura in spite of the tragic circumstances which cost one family their home and led to severe damage being caused to the other bungalow.

“Thankfully no-one was hurt in the fire and to the delight of firefighters we managed to make our way into the neighbouring bungalow to save the baby equipment before it was damaged by water.  The actions of the firefighters first on scene and the incident commander no doubt led to this positive outcome.”

A cordon was put in place while crews fought the fire.

Six firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used three hose reels to extinguish the fires at the bungalows.

Two covering jets, two short extension ladders, a roof ladder, a thermal imaging camera and specialist lighting was also used.