| Firework Management and Explosion Investigation |
| Wednesday, July 16, 2008 |
Details have been agreed for the latest Firework Management and Explosion Investigation Course run by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service's FIRST.
This years course will be held at a new venue and will be run over two days. The International School of Security and Explosives Education (ISSEE) will be hosting the event near Salisbury in Wiltshire. ISSEE has some of the best facilities for delivering explosives courses in the world and the facilities will be used to enhance the practical delivery of the course.
The cost of the course will be ₤420.
For further details and to make reservations please contact Jean Murray on 0151 296 4607. Places are strictly limited and this will be the only course to be run during 2008.
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| European Firework Network |
| Monday, March 24, 2008 |
Plans are being made for the creation of a network of European partners, for the purpose of researching the problems associated with the criminal and anti-social misuse of consumer fireworks. A bid for European funding is to be made by Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service and partners from across Europe are being sought to join together to make Europe a safer place. A number of prospective partners have already been identified. For further information please contact Mike Kirby at MF&RS on 0151 296 4607.
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| Bonfire night success |
| Friday, November 09, 2007 |
The bonfire period in Merseyside passed off relatively peacefully thanks to the work of the FIRST officers supported by others within the Threat Response Group. The number of incidents involving fireworks reported to the fire service during the period 1st October to 10th November numbered 27, compared to 39 for the equivalent period the previous year. Incidents attended included fireworks thrown through the windows of dwellings (5), vehicles (4) and letterboxes (10). On one occasion a 48 shot roman candle barrage was hurled into a crowded pub starting a number of small fires but fortunately no injuries. A total of four incidents involved category 4 aerial shells. The Police and fire service investigated each incident and are continuing their lines of enquiry to identify those responsible.
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| FIRST officers in Northern Ireland |
| Friday, September 21, 2007 |
Officers from the FIRST were invited over to Northern Ireland recently by the Northern Ireland Office (Firearms and Explosives Branch), to give a presentation on the problems of dealing with explosives issues in Merseyside.
The presentation took place on the Stormont Estate and was delivered to a combination of EHO's (Environmental Health Officers), officers from the PSNI (Police Service Northern Ireland) and members of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.
The day proved hugely successful and resulted in a frank and open exchange of information and working practices, to assist with the enforcement of explosives legislation and also the response to operational incidents involving fireworks and other explosives.
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| September FIRST course |
| Thursday, September 20, 2007 |
The latest Firework Management and Explosion Investigation course proved a huge success at the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh. Run for three days in mid-September it attracted delegates from England, Wales and Scotland. The weather was favourable enabling the course to run smoothly and without interruption.
The final day saw excellent practical demonstrations by the EOD and recreations of VBIED's (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices).
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| New date for FIRST course |
| Friday, August 03, 2007 |
New dates for the re-arranged FIRST course have been released. The next course will run from September 17th to September 19th inclusive, in order to prepare for the forthcoming firework season. The venue will remain the same at the Fire Service College but accommodation will be provided locally within Moreton-in-Marsh itself.
For further details contact Jean Murray on 0151 296 4607 or use the online enquiry from.
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| June FIRST course |
| Tuesday, July 17, 2007 |
The latest Firework Management and Explosion Investigation course was held at the Fire Service College, Moreton-in-Marsh during the last week in June 2007.
Students came from the length and breadth of the UK with representatives from Northern Ireland, Strathclyde, Lothian and Borders, Devon & Somerset and many more.
The course objective was to provide an insight into the problems associated with fireworks and other explosives and how these problems can be overcome.
See the bottom of the Read / Reports section within the Members login for more details and photos.
Anyone wishing to receive member status for a temporary period up to September 1st 2007 will be able to do so, by completing the Online Enquiry Form and making a request.
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| Fireworks and Explosives Courses for 2007 |
| Monday, February 19, 2007 |
Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service will be running two further firework and explosive incident investigation courses at the Fire Service College, during June and July. Each course will last three days with the dates being as follows:
- June 25th, 26th and 27th.
- July 3rd, 4th and 5th.
For further details contact Jean Murray on 0151 296 4607.
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| Fatal firework factory blaze probed |
| Monday, December 04, 2006 |
An investigation is due to begin into an explosion at a fireworks factory which killed two firefighters.
The firefighters died as they fought a blaze at the Festival Fireworks company's storage depot near Lewes, East Sussex, on Sunday.
Twelve more - nine fire service staff, two members of the public and a police sergeant - were injured in the blast, which rocked nearby properties. Fireworks continued to explode over the site for hours.
Two of the injured are badly hurt but are said to be in a stable condition.
The fire is being left to burn because of fears acetylene gas canisters on the site may explode.
Local MP Norman Baker described the deaths as a "terrible event" while fire chiefs said colleagues of the dead firefighters are feeling their deaths "very deeply".
The Health and Safety Executive said that an inspector is ready to start an investigation. An electrical fault may have been responsible for the fire.
The dead are a 49-year-old control room staff member who was also a retained fire officer and a 63-year-old retired fire officer who had been re-employed and provided support at incidents, the FBU said.
Jason Winter, nephew of owner Martin Winter, said of his family: "They have literally got the shirt that they're wearing at the moment, that's it. They have lost everything."
Festival Fireworks employed up to 50 staff. As one of the biggest firework importers in the UK it was behind the Millennium display alongside the River Thames and the Lord Mayor's show in London.
With East Sussex F&RS requesting assistance with the investigation by Merseyside's FIRST, GM Chris Case and AM Harry Egger initially spent a week at the site giving advice and assisting with the identification of the cause of the fire. As the weeks go by this protracted investigation will continue to call on the resources of many organisations including MF&RS, who have given a commitment to East Sussex to provide long term support if necessary.
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| Firework used to destroy car |
| Friday, October 27, 2006 |
A FIREWORK so lethal that the public are banned from buying it was used to blow up a car in Liverpool.
The explosive, designed to be fired from a mortar tube and available only for organised displays,destroyed a black Ford Focus on an estate in Croxteth.
This type of firework was banned from public sale 10 years ago after the deaths of two people.
Fire experts said today anyone standing near the Focus when it blew up would have been killed instantly. Theforce of the explosion was so great it blew a one-foot hole in the steel plated floor of the car.
The explosion happened outside a house on Croxteth Hall Lane, Liverpool, at 9.30pm. Police believe the firework was thrown into the car after awindow was smashed.
The Focus is now under-going forensic tests and officers from FIRST (fireworks incident research safety team) are investigating.
Chris Case, head of FIRST, said: "You used to be able to get hold of these types of fireworks until 1996 when there were quite a few deaths.
"They are designed to be fired around 400ft up in the air and are used in the finales of firework displays.
"We think this one was 5-6 inches long. Anyone standing near the car would have been killed instantly by the flying glass."
Today glass littered the street and scorch marks from the explosion could clearly be seen.
One woman said: "I heard the fire engines and looked out of my window to see the car. It was blazing like a bonfire. It was obvious what had happened because there was a similar explosion near here last year.
"These kids have turned bonfire night into a nightmare."
Two hours later, a Rover car was set on fire in St Andrews Avenue, West Derby, when a firework was left on top of a wheel.
See pictures in read / reports section.
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