Motorist hurls abuse at fire crews fighting blaze
ROAD WAS CLOSED TO PROTECT DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS
EMERGENCY crews tackled a car fire – but were verbally abused after closing a road to put it out and protect neighbouring vehicles and homes.
The road was closed in Brinsley on Tuesday morning as crews dealt with the incident which saw plumes of thick black smoke billow into the sky.
A Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “Unfortunately not everyone was happy that we’d closed the road off and one of our crew received some verbal abuse from a motorist because the motorist couldn’t get past.
“This was however an isolated case and everyone else appeared to understand what we were dealing with.
“We only close a road using the fire engine (known as a fend-off position) when we risk-assess that by not doing so would put our crews at risk from other moving vehicles as we work, or to protect the public from getting too close for their own safety.”
Fire crews said two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus were used along with two hose reels to put the fire out.
They also helped to protect another car and property.
The spokesman added: “Eastwood crew would like to thank the local community for their patience when a road was closed in Brinsley this morning at approximately 09.40hrs.
“Two breathing apparatus wearers used two hosereels to protect another car and property and to put the fire out, and a dry powder extinguisher was also used to combat a running fuel fire underneath the van after the fuel tank/fuel lines failed.
“Fortunately no-one was hurt.”