Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
London Road is currently closed due to a major house fire close to the old YHA.
There are at least 3 pump ladders, the turntable platform and an incident van plus of course plenty of police, so it must have been pretty fierce.
The pavement and road is taped off just outside our house (again).
If I learn more will let you know.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
there seems to be a lot going on in that area at the moment.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
Indeed
Whilst I do not want to suggest at the moment how it started, I notice two of the local drinkers who live there or there abouts are being interviewed in the street by the police.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
I drove past London Rd about 7.30am and the road was awash with emergency vehicles.It looked like a scene from the war and the blitz.Managed to take a photo on the move and through a rain spattered windscreen.An ambulance with its lights flashing was just pulling away and turning down in to Bridge St at the time.I really hope everyones ok.
Sorry about the poor quality but the place was crawling with the law.They also appear to be driving around the streets of Tower Hamlets for some unknown reason.Culprit???
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
I understand that it started shortly before 6:30 this morning and that 3 fireman were taken to hospital when the floors collapsed, they either fell through them or it fell onto them - still a little unclear.
The house is completely gutted and the fire has caused some damage to those either side.
More to follow
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
Well it certainly was big, there were pump ladders from Dover, Whitfield & Wingham that I can see plus the aerial platform and a control van from Canterbury. There are two further pump ladders that are further down the road that I cannot see the sides of.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,302
Like you Ross, the lady next door to the fire has spent a lot money improving her property. I wonder how it affects her.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
Earlier the fire service were punching out slates on her roof to vent it.
This would suggest that there has been damage to the rafters and or roof beams plus all the likely water damage.
The fire service are mopping up and a fair few of the units have stood down and left the scene, those remaining will be damping down etc. & will no doubt need to pump out the basement to minimise consequential damage to the properties either side.
If the main beams have burnt through they will need to get scaffolding an props etc in there soon to support the party walls either side to avoid slippage etc.
Hope everyone was insured...
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
i hope the firemen are ok,wouldnt wish that on anyone.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
this is the story on the BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7653256.stm
Appears now it was only one firefighter who was hurt
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
I was first on the scene,as I cycled up London Road just after 6am,I was covered in smoke,I looked up and could see the smoke coming out of the roof,so I went to the next house and was about to ring the bell when a man came out and said there is smoke in my house,I said call 999,then I heard someone because the smoke was so bad I couldn't see him calling the Fire Brigade,so I went next door and rang the door bells.
A lady and a man came to the door and they didn't know what was going on,so I told them to get out,I could see flames in every window now,and the fire engines arrived,I went down to the Eagle to stop the traffic coming up,I had a high vis jacket on so that helped.8 fire tenders arrived and two ambulances,then about 06.20 the Police arrived and sealed off London Road.
My problem was my bike was where the fire was as I had just left it as soon as I saw the smoke and a fireman went to get it.When I got home I couldn't sleep and you think about if there was anyone in the house,the lady next door said that someone lived there but didn't know if he was there,if he was I thought if I could have done more,but when I saw the fireman break the door down and saw the flames I know if there was someone in there,I couldn't have helped and would have made things worse because the last thing the fireman would want is to look around for an extra person.
One of the fireman who turned up was a former player from my Football team,and what was nice was the fact another Fireman thanked me for my help.Now it sounds as if I am blowing my own trumpet here,but I did it without thinking and having recieved many fire courses over 35 years on the railway it was natural to assist.
I smell of fire though,I just hope there was no one in the house and that all the fireman are o.k.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
John, you may have saved lives with your actions. Bloody brilliant of you to do what you did, I think you deserve some sort of civic award.
Pictures taken at 11:45. The top flat looks gutted.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
Well done John and thank you
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Well done John right man in the right place at the right time.
Vic m
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
All of the above John.A true hero.Hope you manage to sleep tonight.
"It takes a cool head in a heated moment to act soundly and swiftly to save lives"
Marek 1955-
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
The view from my back garden earlier
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 650- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 542
John, don't even begin to think you could have done more! What you did was exactly right - a real help, exactly what was needed - you alerted people, took charge of the traffic, directed the engines (and with a high viz vest, no less!), and at no time did you didn't endanger yourself or others. Brilliant.
A good thing you were there on the scene right when needed. Well done indeed, for your cool head and your actions.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Well done chaps for all the above excellent roving reporter info and pictures... great stuff indeed..all stars to a man.
Have also put info and pictures from 'our man in London Road' Terry Nunn on our frontpage. Many thanks Terry for those.
Truly heroic stuff there John HG. Well done for all that..well done
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
good stuff john, maybe we should all have training for such a situation.
