It was like the end of the world, says firefighter just FIVE days into her job
A FEMALE firefighter just five days into her new job was on the front line of the Grenfell Tower blaze.
April Cachia, 26, had qualified only ten days before, based at Shoreditch Fire Station in east London – and was on her first full shift as the call came.
She arrived on the scene with her crew shortly after 2am. ‘It was like the end of the world was happening,’ she said. ‘My adrenaline was going and my thoughts were “Get me in there, I want to help, this is what I signed up for”.’
Miss Cachia and colleagues reached the tower’s stairwell, retrieving casualties from other firefighters who were further inside the building. She said: ‘I’d never done this before but there was something inside me telling me every step of the way this is what I have to do now. I’ll never forget the things people say as you’re helping them out.’
Less than a year ago Miss Cachia was working as a payroll and HR administrator in an office. But becoming a firefighter was something she had ‘dreamed of doing since I was a kid’.
She volunteered with the London Fire Cadets and was accepted into the London Fire Brigade in August last year. After an 11-week intensive course she graduated in May, and her first day as a qualified firefighter was on June 4.
Shifts, or ‘tours’, encompass two days and two nights. Miss Cachia had served only half a tour and encountered one other fire before the one at Grenfell Tower.
She spent several hours in the building. ‘It was really smoky and the heat would make your eyes burn,’ she said. ‘Any time someone opened a door somewhere the fire would surge and your eyes would go blurry. You needed a few minutes to get through the pain.’
By 7.30am, with conditions increasingly fraught, Miss Cachia and her team had done all they could do before colleagues in breathing apparatus took over.
‘That’s one of the hardest things I’ve had to do, walk away from the situation knowing there are people still in there,’ she said. ‘We’ve saved people but we haven’t saved everyone, so it’s bittersweet. I’ve never felt more proud to be part of the fire brigade family. I have so much pride for these people.’
Like all firefighters involved, Miss Cachia has been offered counselling sessions. She says the incident ‘hasn’t sunk in yet’ but she is coping by surrounding herself with her friends, family and dog Lola.
She said it ‘absolutely’ hasn’t put her off the job, adding: ‘Although I’m only 26, I’m quite headstrong and will be able to get through this. I can deal with it and move on, once I’ve cried about it enough.
‘I can’t wait to go back to work. I’m extremely proud to be a part of such an amazing emergency service and want to give credit to every single firefighter that was there. I’ve never seen a group of people work so hard to save lives.
‘I’m also praying and sending my love to all the families at this devastating time. They are in my thoughts and prayers.’ Miss Cachia was due to return to work today.