Don’t dial 999 unless lives are at risk
FIRE SERVICE MAKES PLEA AS STORM DENNIS APPROACHES
DERBYSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service is urging people not to dial 999 during Storm Dennis, unless lives are at risk.
The service wants people to consider their reasons for calling out emergency crews as it predicts the number of calls will double as the storm hits this weekend.
During extreme weather, the number of calls to 999 can double in a matter of minutes, according to a spokesman for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue, and many calls relate to non-emergencies, or issues the emergency services cannot deal with.
The increase in calls can mean fire control room operators are tied up and could be prevented from dealing with a real emergency.
Joint Fire Control station manager Carly Pointon said: “During storm Ciara, the service received over 300 emergency 999 calls asking for assistance at all types of incidents from fallen trees, unsafe structures and flooding, but many of these calls were either not an emergency, or the responsibility of another agency.
“While control room operators are dealing with these requests and signposting people to other agencies, they may be prevented from dealing with a real emergency which could put other lives at risk.”
Storm Dennis is set to start making its presence felt today, with gusts of up to 50mph coupled with torrential rain lasting into tomorrow.
The Met Office has issued a severe weather warning and several rivers in the area are likely to go on flood alert over the weekend.
However, the fire service says damage to property or even trees falling onto roads are not reasons to dial 999, unless someone has been hurt or is in danger.
To report a tree falling on the road, call Derbyshire County Council on 01629 533190. If someone is in danger, call 999.
If a tree falls on your own property, or your property floods, only dial 999 if someone is in danger or electrics could be compromised. Otherwise it is a personal responsibility.
The same goes for unsafe structures on your own property – they are a personal responsibility as long as there is no danger to life. However, an unsafe structure or tree over a public highway is a reason to dial 999.
Fire control station manager Pointon added: “In any emergency situation we would always advise you ring 999 immediately.
“Control room operators will assess the situation and ensure an appropriate emergency response is put into action immediately, but when it’s a fallen tree on a road, that is not endangering life, then this is the responsibility of the local authority and the fire service wouldn’t attend.
“Similarly we get numerous calls to attend flooding during extreme weather. Unfortunately in many cases there isn’t much the fire service can do while water is flooding into property, there is simply nowhere for us to pump the water too, so unless there is a threat to life, then people will need to be patient and wait for the water to subside itself.
“If electrics have been affected, then the advice is to isolate the electrics and contact an electrician.”
Although the gales during Storm Dennis are likely to be less severe than Storm Ciara, trees and other structures may have been weakened from last weekend and could be more prone to falling.
The rain will also be affecting already swollen rivers.
The weather will start to calm down again through Monday, paving the way for an unsettled week with sunny spells, but plenty of wind and showers around.
Storm Dennis has already started to have an impact on Derbyshire, with event cancellations being announced, including Breadsall Cricket Club’s popular snowdrops weekend.
The annual event, to raise money for The Old Barn in Breadsall, will now take place from noon until 5pm on Saturday and Sunday, February 22 and 23.
Control room operators may be prevented from dealing with a real emergency.
Carly Pointon