Fire heroes get rescue praise (From Warrington Guardian)

Fire heroes get rescue praise

AUDLEM'S retained fire crew has received the Chief Fire Officer's Commendation for saving a woman from a burning building.

Leana Plant was minutes from death when firefighters pulled her from a raging fire at her home in Stafford Street last March.

Now Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service have recognised the Audlem team's bravery with the prestigious commendation.

Station Commander David Roberts said: "It was both a difficult and dangerous incident, which might have had a far more serious outcome if not for the firemanship, courage and devotion to duty of all the crews involved.

"I have nothing but praise for all the firefighters, but especially the crew from Audlem who met the incident head on and dealt with the trauma and pressure in such a selfless and professional manner."

In the early hours of March 9 2005 the retained duty crew were called to a flat fire in the village.

When they arrived Mrs Plant was hanging out of a first floor window, obviously in distress and surrounded by thick smoke.

As they used a saw and axe to free her, the crew discovered a fire in the adjacent alleyway, which looked like spreading to nearby houses.

Two team members with hose reel jets were deployed to prevent gas cylinders, which had been left in the alley, exploding.

In the meantime another firefighter climbed a ladder and gave Mrs Plant oxygen while the window frame was removed and she was brought down.

Receiving the award at the service's annual award ceremony were Audlem firefighters David Roberts, Gill Dimelow, David Smith, Steven Fellows and Shane Thomson.