Witheridge Fire Station

13/02/2025

Incident type:
Domestic fire

Location:
Wembworthy

Attending stations:
Witheridge
Hatherleigh
Okehampton

Three fire engines were mobilised to reports of smoke issuing from a kitchen of a domestic property in Wembworthy, Devon. On arrival crews confirmed there was a fire within the kitchen that had spread to the roof and extinguished the fire using:

4 Breathing apparatus
2 Hose reel jets
1 Safety jet
Roof ladders
Thermal image cameras

There was 20 percent fire damage to the house, 30 percent fire damage to the roof and 50 percent smoke damage to the property. The cause of the fire was accidental.

26/01/2025

We have been experiencing a high number of calls following the heavy rain in Devon and Somerset earlier today, with more rain expected to sweep across the area this evening.

Water levels are likely to keep rising, with roads becoming flooded. Please do not drive through floodwater, especially where warning signs have been put in place.

Just 30cm of flowing water can make a vehicle stuck or even sweep it away.

05/01/2025

🚨Vehicle in water🚨

Location
Ashreigney

Attending station
Witheridge
Barnstaple
South Molton Fire Station

Fire Control received a call from distressed elderly occupants of a vehicle trapped in flood water.

1 fire engine from Witheridge, 1 from South Molton, the Tactical Rescue Team from Barnstaple, a Water Incident Manager and an Operational Assurance Officer were all sent to the location.

The elderly occupants, were trapped within their car in fast flowing and fast rising water.

The Control Operator stayed on the call with the couple giving advice and reassurance for some time until the arrival of the crews. During this time, the water had risen substantially and the couple were sat in their vehicle, almost up to their chests in icy cold water, it was not safe for them to leave the vehicle due to the fast flow of the water outside of it.

Once in attendance, crews donned their dry suits to make an attempt at a rescue. Due to the flowing water, crews were unable to reach the vehicle safely and had to await the arrival of the team from Barnstaple with their boat.

The boat was launched and both elderly occupants were rescued from their vehicle and taken to dry land where they were checked over by Ambulance Crews. The occupants were uninjured but were suffering with effects of the cold.

18/10/2024

🚒We would like to remind people that the Fire Station forecourt is NOT a public car park. We have just had to ask a member of the public to move their car as they were parked and left the vehicle unattended in front of the appliance bay door whilst visiting the takeaway van next door. This would have delayed our response if we were a alerted to an incident. We have also noticed a number of people using our parking spaces whilst visiting the takeaway van. Your vehicle runs the risk of being blocked in for a number of hours and potentially all night by staff attending the station for an incident🚒.

01/08/2024

We're holding an open day at our headquarters near Exeter on Saturday 1 September.

There will be lots of emergency services vehicles with demonstrations throughout the day.

We will also be fundraising with lots of fun and games including a coconut shy, adults and children's tombola , skittles, bouncy castle, splat the rat, face painting, tin can alley, raffle, BBQ, refreshments and much more...

Don’t forget to get the firefighters wet in the stocks!

27/05/2024

An appliance from Witheridge was second in attendance at this incident.

25/05/2024

This week two of our crew that are also based at Danes Castle station in Exeter paid us a visit with the Vema or Arial Ladder Platform. They ran through the vehicle's capabilities and set up a water tower.

03/11/2023

Please remember when setting off fireworks that we have a considerable amount of thatched properties in the area. Make sure you keep your distance from any thatched properties and check the wind direction. Stay safe everyone and follow the fireworks code of practice.

https://www.dsfire.gov.uk/safety/home/fireworks

http://www.hse.gov.uk/explosives/fireworks/using.htm

02/11/2023

01/11/2023

Winter is fast approaching and we’re encouraging everyone to check in on their loved ones as the weather turns colder.

We all have someone we care about who may need a little extra support if they have ill health or are less mobile.

Over the next few months, we’ll be sharing things that you can do to help us keep those we love safe and reduce false alarms.

We already have lots of good advice on our website- https://orlo.uk/v7ut6

08/08/2023

"The rush of it, the thrill of it, knowing that you're going to be able to go out and help somebody, feeling like you are making a difference, is probably what's most important to me." - Carly

06/08/2023

🚨Incident🚨

Ourselves along with with crews from South Molton and a water bowser from Danes Castle were mobilised to a combine harvester on fire in a field near West Worlington. On arrival the combine was found to be well alight and had spread to a dung heap. Crews used Breathing apparatus, hose reel jets and a thermal imaging camera to extinguish the fire which had completely destroyed the combine.