Deluge of flooding calls keeps firefighters busy (From Gazette)

Deluge of flooding calls keeps firefighters busy

8:14am Monday 24th December 2012 in News

FIREFIGHTERS were forced to choose which flooding calls to respond to after a deluge of requests for help.
 

After days of rain and hundreds of calls crews had to restrict response to calls where there was a threat to life.
 

During the weekend firefighters were kept busy in Colchester, with roads and gardens flooded, and in one hour were also sent to calls in Saffron Walden, South Ockendon, Wickford, Stansted, Waltham Abbey, Harlow and Basildon.
 

A spokesman for the Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said: “Control operators are having to explain to a number of callers that fire crews can only be mobilised to flooding incidents where there is a danger to people or life risk.
 

“The service cannot assist unless water looks set to enter a property.”
And crews also expressed disappointment at the number of motorists getting themselves stranded by driving into flooded roads and not using any common sense.