Off-duty hero firefighter praised for blaze rescue
A LARNE firefighter has been praised after his quick reactions while off duty saved a man’s life.
Moore Campbell joined the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) earlier this year.
On December 1 he saw smoke coming from a flat at Dromaine Drive in the town.
Acting quickly, he entered the property and rescued the 58-yearold man.
Mr Campbell’s colleagues at Larne Fire Station then arrived and put out the blaze.
The man was t reated for smoke inhalation by the Ambulance Service.
NIFRS said the blaze was believed to have been caused by an electric blanket.
Mr Campbell ex p l a i ne d : “When I saw the smoke coming out of the building I just did what any one of my colleagues would have done in the same scenario.
“Thankfully t his i ncident didn’t end in a tragedy, but it’s a powerful reminder to all of us of the higher risk of accidental fires in the home during the winter.
“I’d ask everyone in Northern Ireland to support myself and my colleagues this winter by speaking to their friends and family about their home fire safety precautions.”
Assistant Chief Officer Paddy Gallagher said Mr Campbell’s “swift and selfless actions represent the very best of the Fire Service”.
“I commend him for his courage and his professionalism,” Mr Gallagher said.
“I also commend the on-duty crews who arrived quickly and extinguished the fire.”
He added: “We know that the winter months present an increased risk of accidental fires in the home.
“Tragically, four people have already lost their lives in accidental fires in the home and this incident could have led to another fatality.”
Mr Gallagher encouraged people to take precautions at home in order to keep safe this festive season.
“There are simple things you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe,” he said.
“Everyone should follow our STOP Fire message. Make sure you have working smoke alarms in your home.
“Test them once a week. “Be aware of the obvious dangers.
“And plan your escape if a fire does break out.
“Firefighter Campbell and his colleagues go through rigorous training to respond to this kind of incident.
“Members of the public should never enter a building that’s on fire.
“We can all protect our loved ones from the risk of fire this winter by speaking to them about the STOP Fire message and contacting NIFRS if there are any concerns.”
NIFRS would like to remind people that during the winter months the risk of accidental fires in the home increase as more people spend more time indoors and additional fire risks such as electric blankets, candles and fairy lights are used.
People here over the age of 50 are eligible for a free home fire safety check from the NIFRS.