WATCH: Firefighters applauded after blazing bank holiday

Tuesday 27 August 2019

A car engulfed in flames, two BBQ blazes and a rescue after a 15ft fall onto a boat from a harbour wall... Jersey's firefighters got no rest this bank holiday weekend, tackling several emergencies as temperatures soared.

Despite issuing words of advice for outdoor cooking ahead of the hot weather, firefighters had to deal with two BBQ fires on Saturday alone.

One of them took place at a property in St. Martin at the end of what Green Watch described as a "busy shift."

While the blaze destroyed the BBQ and had started to spread to the house when the Fire Service arrived, it was quickly brought under control by two firefighters.

The interior of the house was then inspected before being cleared of any remaining smoke. 

Following the incident, Watch Commander Ryan reminded the public to check all gas hoses and cylinder connections before lighting their gas BBQ.

After attending a similar incident, the Fire Service reiterated their message, urging members of the public to check their connections are secure.

"If they are in any doubt to the condition of their hoses, to check them for leaks with a brush and soapy water or replace them if concerned," they added.

Earlier in the day, firefighters helped rescued a woman who had fallen from the harbour wall in St. Aubin and onto a boat 15ft below.

Emergency Services responded to a call from St. Aubin's harbour just after 13:30.

The Fire Service worked with Ambulance crews to secure and rescue the injured woman.

The woman was taken aboard the Fire Service's inshore rescue boat before being transferred to an ambulance waiting at La Haule slip.

Then at around 23:15 on Sunday night, the Fire Service was called to a vehicle fire in the area of Les Landes in St. Ouen.

When they arrived, the car was engulfed in flames and quickly spreading to the surrounding headland.

Firefighters estimated that the blaze covered an area of approximately 60 sqm in total.

The team first tackled the headland fire to prevent it from spreading any further before putting out the vehicle.

Following their bumper weekend of blazes and emergency rescues, hundreds of islanders praised the Fire Service on social media for their work to keep islanders safe over the bank holiday.

Applauding their efforts, Samantha Gaudin commented: "Wow, well done guys... Another environmental tragedy averted!"

"Well done guys, keeping us all safe. Thank you for being awesome," Shoni Claire Honeycombe added.