Emergency Work

The role of the The Salvation Army in the Emergency Services
SA Red Shield The Salvation Army is a religious and charitable movement, finding its expression in a desire to alleviate human distress where found.

It is not primarily an emergency disaster relief organization, but by tradition and inclination usually finds itself serving at the point of greatest need, during the emergency period of a disaster.
Stowmarket S.A. Emergency Response Unit

Was formed in 1978 and since then has attended all major Fires etc, in Suffolk, providing refreshments to Emergency Services workers.

The Stowmarket unit has now attended 274 incidents.
Yearly Call-out totals:
2003 - 18, 2004 - 13, 2005 - 18, 2006 - 24, 2007 - 19, 2008 - 15. 2009 - 10.
2010 - 23. 2011 - 15. 2012 - 3 to date

The largest for many years being the massive fire at Centre Parcs, Elveden on 4th April 02. With 39 appliances and special vehicles, 200+ firefighters.

Centre Parcs FireCenter Parcs2



Some 13 members of the S.A. Emergency Unit being involved for 8 hours in attendance, during that time issued 700 drinks, and made 40 loaves of bread into sandwiches.

June / July 07

During June/July 07 we assisted with flooding at Toll Bar, Bentley,
Nr Docaster. The Unit and teams were on duty 24/7hrs from Sat 30th June - Friday 6th July 07.

We also assisted at Evesham - weekend 21st/22nd July 07.

High Volume Pumps24/7 Duty-night shift

26 High Volume pumps in use

SA UnitRoad flooding

24/7 service --------------- flooding 10 days later

dingy viewingHouse flooding

The only way to see the damage.

Houses standing in water 10 days
after initial flooding.





Toll House floodinghouse flooding

Dreadful damage - poor people






It was a privilege to offer some help, support & comfort to the people of that area, and assistance to the Blue Light Emergency Service, Utility Companies, Residents, Council officials, Press & TV teams.

____________________________________________


I list below a few interesting statistics to date:-
Over 21,077 emergency workers/public assisted.
More than 41,635 Hot/Cold Drinks served.
2,853 filled loaves of bread made into sandwiches.
2,300 Hot meals.
Over 6,750 Voluntary Manhours at incidents.

We have also used RAYNET to assist us with communications.

 
Date Type Location Number
Assisted		 Hot/Cold
Drinks		 Hot
Meals		 Filled
Loaves		 Man
Hours
Feb 79 Flood Stowmarket 2 - - - 13
Feb 79 Flood Beyton 2 - - - 10
Feb 79 Snow A140 20 50 - 10 48
Oct 79 Fire Ipswich 150 500 120 17 46
June 84 Fire Heveningham 70 250 - 12 57
Feb 85 Fire Barnham 100 250 - 15 27
Sep 85 Fire Combs 12 25 - 2 4
May 86 Fire Bury St Edmunds 55 150 - 10 18
Nov 89 Fire Stowmarket 30 65 - 3 25
Oct 91 Fire Thetford 250 2000 1000 20 243
June 92 Search Stowmarket 10 20 - - 2
Aug 92 Fire Ipswich 100 350 50 10 84
Sept 92 Fire Stowmarket 80 150 - 20 13
Jan 94 Fire Bury St Edmunds 40 120 - 10 34
Mar 94 Fire Combs 50 150 - 3 15
Aug 94 Fire Ipswich 25 80 - 6 25
Oct 94 Fire Trimley St Martin 12 50 32 2 8
Nov 94 Fire Woodbridge 45 150 36 14 29
Jan 95 Fire Old Newton 24 50 24 6 16
Feb 95 Fire Wickenbrook 70 230 - 12 13
Mar 95 Fire Theberton 50 150 50 4 27
Mar 95 Fire Holton 50 80 48 4 28
Mar 95 Fire Rushmere 40 80 30 5 14
May 95 Fire Rushmmere 40 120 12 6 14
Apr 95 Fire Faiston 50 150 - 8 21
Apr 95 Fire Hollesley 40 120 - 3 9
Aug 95 Fire Brandon 60 180 - 10 31
Aug 95 Fire Ipswich 200 2100 680 140 227
Dec 95 Fire Stowmarket 35 100 85 4 26
Jan 96 Fire Mellis 40 120 - 10 26
Feb 96 Ship Fire Felixstowe Docks 70 200 - 12 15
Feb 96 Fire Little Stonham 35 100 - 6 4
Apr 96 Fire Shottisham 30 90 24 6 39
Apr 96 Fire Shottisham 30 100 24 6 9
May 96 Fire Ipswich 50 150 - 12 22
May 96 Fire Framlingham 30 90 30 - 9
May 96 Fire Lindsey 65 200 - 18 32
May 96 Fire Drinkstone 25 75 - 4 5
July 96 Fire Long Melford 70 210 - 12 16
July 96 Fire Tunstall 35 100 - 7 15
Oct 96 Fire Thorndon 40 120 - 8 12
Oct 96 Fire Sunbury 50 150 - 10 15
Nov 96 Fire Lavenham 50 140 - 9 19
Nov 96 Fire Ipswich 100 325 25 15 46
Dec 96 Fire Bury St Edmunds 50 150 - 8 14
Jan 97 Fire Bury St Edmunds 50 150 - 8 12
Mar 97 Fire Sudbury 60 180 - 10 45
Apr 97 Fire Bury St Edmunds 40 115 - 7 13
May 97 Fire Felixstowe 80 200 - 15 28
June 97 Fire Snape 45 130 - 7 15
Aug 97 Fire Kersey 40 120 - 8 15
Aug 97 Fire Southwold 35 100 - 8 19
Sep 97 Fire Long Melford 50 120 - 10 20
Oct 97 Fire Newmarket 50 120 - 8 20
Oct 97 Fire Newmarket 10 25 - - 2
Oct 97 Fire Great Barton 35 100 - 6 19
Nov 97 Fire Lowestoft 40 120 - 8 37
Jan 98 Fire Creeting St Mary 50 120 - 18 21
Mar 98 Fire Sudbury 50 90 - 8 11
Jul 98 Fire Stowmarket 60 130 - 10 12
Aug 98 Fire Shadingfield 20 60 - 5 17
Sep 98 Fire Fressingfield 50 130 - 10 18
Oct 98 Fire Yaxley 40 120 - 6 9
Nov 98 Fire Needham Mkt 30 75 - - 3
Nov 98 Fire Haverhill 60 120 - 12 26
Feb 99 Fire Lowestoft 130 400 - 40 132
Aug 99 Fire Barton Mills 40 150 - 6 22
Aug 99 Fire Worlingworth 130 390 - 26 46
Sep 99 Suffolk C.C. Ipswich 60 80 - 5 18
Dec 99 Fire Lowestoft 60 100 - 15 22
Jan 00 Fire Long Melford 45 80 - 8 12
Feb 00 Fire Wenhaston 60 120 - 22 24
Mar 00 Fire Wetheringset 55 100 - 10 14
Mar 00 Fire Yoxford 85 250 - 12 19
Apr 00 Fire Ipswich 85 240 - 15 17
Apr 00 Fire Lindsey Tye 60 120 - 14 19
July 00 Fire Eye 70 200 - 14 20
Aug 00 Fire Mendlesham 60 180 - 12 13
Aug 00 Fire Felixstowe 30 90 - 8 11
Aug 00 Fire Mellis 35 70 - 8 11
Sep 00 Fire Brockford 50 135 - 10 17
Oct 00 Fire Snape 35 75 - 7 18
Dec 00 Fire Ipswich 35 50 - 6 15
Dec 00 Fire Earl Soham 70 140 - 12 15
Jan 01 Fire Fressingfield 35 50 - 6 15
Feb 01 Fire Claire 80 150 - 8 15
Mar 01 Fire Peasenhall 80 140 - 14 24
Mar 01 Fire Hitcham 90 200 - 15 29
Apr 01 Fire Wetheringsett 80 135 - 14 19
Apr 01 Fire Walsham 60 90 - - 13
Apr 01 Fire Redgrave 25 45 - 5 12
Apr 01 Fire Ipswich 40 70 - - 5
May 01 Fire Bury St Edmunds 50 80 - 6 10
May 01 Fire Levington 65 110 - 10 15
May 01 Fire Thorpe Morieux 45 90 - 8 16
May 01 Fire Beccles 75 150 - 10 21
May 01 Fire Risby 50 90 - 8 13
June 01 Fire Haverhill 40 70 - 22 29
June 01 Fire Ipswich 40 70 - 8 12
June 01 Fire Tunstall 40 130 - - 8
Aug 01 Fire Ipswich 80 170 - 14 9
Aug 01 Fire Kessingland 35 60 - 9 13
Oct 01 Fire Denham 50 80 - 6 8
Nov 01 Fire Parnham 70 200 - 14 24
Nov 01 Fire Lowestoft 60 150 - 20 27
Jan 02 Fire Iken 100 200 - 24 39
Mar 02 Fire Hundon 60 120 - 8 13
Mar 02 Fire Denston 50 120 - 10 10
Apri 02 Fire Elvedon 200 700 - 40 57
April 02 Fire Ipswich 35 70 - 7 14
June 02 Fire Mendlesham 60 130 - 12 17
July 02 Fire Ipswich 70 150 - 12 14
July 02 Fire Buxhall 50 100 - 10 10
Sept 02 Fire East Wretham 35 50 - 6 18
Sept 02 Fire Haughley 40 60 - 8 9
Oct 02 Fire Wetheringsett 80 200 - 12 21
Oct 02 Fire Ixworth 35 60 - 6 14
Feb 03 Fire Litttle Blakenham 35 55 - 6 16
Feb 03 Fire Edwarton 45 150 - 9 28
Feb 03 Fire Waldingfield 50 125 - 9 23
April 03 Fire Thwaite 50 130 - 8 10
April 03 Fire Lowestoft 55 140 - 10 24
April 03 Fire Hollesley 100 120 - 10 20
May 03 Fire Beccles 30 50 - 6 10
May 03 Fire Little Cornard 35 80 - 6 17
June 03 Fire Barrow 35 50 - 6 9
July 03 Fire Bromeswell 50 100 - 10 14
July 03 Fire Ipswich 45 150 - 9 13
Aug 03 Fire West Dernham 100 175 - 15 43
Aug 03 Fire Southwold 60 200 - 9 18
Aug 03 Fire Southwold 35 80 - 11 28
Sept 03 Fire Hinderclay 35 50 - 5 9
Oct 03 Fire Claydon 25 40 - 5 7
Oct 03 Fire Pakenham 60 90 - 10 12
Oct 03 Fire Buxhall 30 50 - 6 5
Jan 04 Fire Chattisham 60 140 - 10 23
Feb 04 Fire Pettaugh 25 75 - 8 12
Mar 04 Fire Sudbury 60 40 - 12 9
Apr 04 Fire Bildeston 50 75 - 8 10
Apr 04 Fire Lowestoft 35 50 - 7 17
Jun 04 Fire Ixworth 65 100 - 8 9
Jun 04 Fire Debach Airfield 55 100 - 10 9
Aug 04 Fire Stowmarket 25 100 - 5 19
Sep 04 Fire Bury St Edmunds 75 200 - 21 20
Oct 04 Fire Bury St Edmunds 150 750 - 42 39
Nov 04 Fire Bury St Edmunds 150 750 - 42 49
Nov 04 Fire Lowestoft 75 75 - 15 15
Nov 04 Fire Lowestoft 30 - - 5 4
Jan 05 Fire Creeting St Mary 30 40 - 6 7
Jan 05 Fire Bacton 80 200 - 18 24
Jan 05 Fire Lidgate 60 120 - 12 21
Feb 05 Fire Haverhill 60 190 - 17 23
Feb 05 Fire Woolpit 60 230 - 12 20
Feb 05 Fire Lowestoft 60 100 - 12 23
April 05 Fire Lowestoft 50 125 - 8 21
May 05 Fire Hollesley 50 80 - 8 13
June 05 Fire Coddenham 40 50 - 8 7
June 05 Fire Stonham 35 50 - 6 8
July 05 Fire Holbrook 60 110 - 12 12
July 05 Fire Gt Barton 30 75 - 6 11
Aug 05 Fire Ipswich 60 60 - 10 12
Sep 05 Fire Felixstowe 45 100 - 8 16
Nov 05 Fire Hasketon 45 40 - 8 8
Nov 05 Fire Cratefield 40 90 - 9 18
Nov 05 Fire Brantham 70 100 - 13 14
Dec 05 Fire Lydgate 60 130 - 12 15
Jan 06 Fire Redgrave 50 140 - 10 15
Feb 06 Fire Preston St Mary 60 90 - 12 14
Feb 06 Fire Broom 50 110 - 10 16
Feb 06 Fire Woolpit 80 170 - 16 20
Mar 06 Fire Eye 65 100 - 10 12
Mar 06 UXB Lowestoft 45 - - 10 12
Jul 06 Fire Shadingfield 20 25 - 3 7
Jul 06 Fire Spexhall 25 35 - 2 6
Jul 06 Fire Shadingfield 50 120 - 8 13
Jul 06 A14 Closure Newmarket 1,400 1,400 - - 25
Jul 06 A14 Closure Sproughton 30 120 - 6 18
Jul 06 Fire Debach Airfield 50 65 - 8 7
Aug 06 Fire Haverhill 35 100 - 3 11
Aug 06 Fire Bury St Edmunds 50 120 - 10 11
Aug 06 Fire Ipswich 75 140 - 15 10
Sep 06 Fire Caversham 25 50 - 6 11
Oct 06 Fire Stowupland 50 70 - 5 9
Oct 06 Fire Ipswich 70 125 - 10 16
Nov 06 Fire Bradfield St Claire 45 90 - 5 8
Dec 06 Police Levington 35 50 - - 15
Dec 06 Police Levington 50 70 - - 40
Dec 06 Police Levington 60 70 - - 37
Dec 06 Fire Long Melford 70 75 - 6 19
Dec 06 Cambs S.A. Cambridge 200 220 - - 31
Jan 07 Fire Copdock 45 70 - 5 13
Jan 07 Fire Flowton 30 30 - 6 9
Jan 07 Fire Gt Blakenham 55 75 - 6 8
Feb 07 Suffolk C.C. Halesworth 25 25 - 5 15
Feb 07 Suffolk C.C. Halesworth 25 30 - 5 10
Feb 07 Fire Lowestoft 40 - - 6 7
Mar 07 Fire Hoxne 90 180 - 10 22
Apr 07 Fire Linstead Magna 80 120 - 10 10
Apr 07 Fire Bury St Edmunds 25 45 - 5 8
May 07 Fire Lowestoft 60 100 - 8 33
May 07 Fire Kedington 40 80 - 9 14
June 07 YorkshireSA Toll Bar 2,900* 3,500 - 70+ 423
June 07 Wychavon DC Evesham 60 100* - 6 47
July 07 Fire Leiston 80 130 - 12 17
Nov 07 Flooding Leiston 30 40 - 6 26
Nov 07 Flooding Leiston 9 10 - 2 14
Nov 07 Fire Hartest 50 7 - 6 14
Dec 07 Fire Yaxley 65 120 - 12 17
Dec 07 Fire Stanton 75 130 - - 11
Jan 08 Fire Sudbury 100 220 - 20 27
Feb 08 Fire Buxhall 90 200 - 13 15
Feb 08 Fire Needham Market 90 140 - 12 11
Mar 08 Police/Evac Ixworth - - - - 6
Mar 08 Fire Hadleigh 50 35 - 10 17
Mar 08 Fire Nowton 35 80 - 5 10
Apr 08 Fire Gt Cornard 50 90 - 7 14
Apr 08 Fire Kersey 110 200 - 20 19
May 08 Fire Weybread 35 50 - 5 16
Jul 08 Fire Wilby 45 75 - 6 14
Aug 08 Fire Newmarket 70 150 - 14 18
Aug 08 Fire Hinderclay 45 75 - 6 9
Oct 08 Fire Exercise Bungay 40 60 - 6 15
Oct 08 Fire Exercise Stowmarket 30 40 - - 5
Dec 08 Fire Withersfield 60 125 - 12 18
Jan 09 Fire Waldringfield 65 150 - 12 15
Jan 09 Fire Debenham 60 105 - 10 17
Jan 09 Fire Hitcham 120 175 - 21 24
Feb 09 Fire Stowupland 30 45 - 6 11
Mar 09 Fire Brockford 80 120 - 12 13
April 09 Fire Bedfield 70 200 - 12 18
May 09 Fire Thorpeness 50 70 - 7 18
Oct 09 Fire Chediston 25 35 - 5 11
Oct 09 Fire Cpodock 25 45 - 7 9
Oct 09 Fire Gisleham 48 60 - 7 13
Jan 10 Fire Barham 65 100 - 10 15
Jan 10 Fire Eye 60 90 - 12 18
Jan 10 Fire Wherstead 55 65 - 10 15
Feb 10 Fire Little Wratting 70 125 - 10 16
Feb 10 Fire Hundon 45 55 - 8 14
Feb 10 Fire Brandon 80 120 - 15 18
Feb 10 Fire Brantham 40 75 - 7 14
Feb 10 Fire Risby 30 60 - 7 11
March 10 Fire Combs 80 165 - 14 12
March 10 Fire Higham 45 75 - 8 8
April 10 Fire Debach Airfield 85 125 - 14 14
April 10 Fire East Bergholt 50 75 - 9 11
April 10 Fire Forward Green 90 175 - 14 12
June 10 Fire Easton 130 275 - 29 29
July 10 Fire Lowestoft 130 200 - 22 35
July 10 Fire Kentford 61 150 - 16 17
July 10 Fire Chelmondiston 86 120 - 10 13
July 10 Fire Great Blakenham 40 75 - 9 11
Aug 10 Fire Bungay 70 150 - 12 17
Aug 10 Fire Brantham 35 50 - 7 11
Oct 10 Fire Felixstowe 35 70 - 9 13
Dec 10 Fire Stoke by Nayland 70 120 - 12 15
Dec 10 Fire Wissett 70 120 - 14 17
Jan 11 Fire Worlingworth 100 175 - 20 19
Feb 11 Gas Main Incident Framlingham 130 650 - 29 60
Mar 11 Fire Ipswich 100 150 - 13 15
Mar 11 Fire Haverhill 85 150 - 14 15
Mar 11 Fire Barham 75 120 - 14 11
Mar 11 Fire Dalham, Newmarket 90 180 - 13 17
April 11 Fire Blaxhall, Nr Woodbridge 80 100 - 15 13
May 11 Fire Kessingland 30 40 - 8 17
May 11 Fire Fire - exercise 60 100 - 13 16
June 11 Fire Waste-Recycling Haverhill 60 90 - 10 15
June 11 Fire Waste-Recycling Haverhill 80 150 - 18 18
Sep 11 Fire Lowestoft 35 60 - 8 13
Sep 11 Fire Ipswich 80 155 - 10 12
Oct 11 Fire Bedingfield 95 160 - 16 15
Oct 11 Fire Lakenheath 60 120 - 11 16
Jan 12 Chemical Spill Stowmarket 70 90 - 12 15
Jan 12 Fire Stonham Aspal 70 95 - 15 14
Jan 12 Chemical Spill Stowmarket 35 65 - 10 11
    *=Estimated          
We have a very efficient and well trained team who will respond at any time, day or night for 365 days a year. I am the co-ordinator for the group.

Early in 2003 the Group took delivery of a purpose built Mobile Response Unit which has tremendously improve our effectiveness and response.

The unit is self contained complete with its own 240v Generator, Water Boilers, Gas Hob, Microwave, Fridge etc., and can sustain support at an incident for many days. We are grateful to the many sponsors who donated to this unit.

Emergency Response Unit

The Anglia Division Emergency Response Unit
based at Stowmarket, Suffolk

During December 2006 we supported Suffolk Constabulary by providing Hot Drink and issuing hot cooked meals to Police members who were working around the various sites at Levington & Nacton. The activities of the group were mentioned on BBC TV "Look East" on Friday 22nd Dec 06.

The Unit has now attended 156 call-outs. The photo below show a typical incident where we provided refreshments at a large Barn Fire at Barrow, Nr Bury St Edmunds. Alerted at midnight and returned home at 05.00 hrs.


Barrow Barn Fire

( Above) The barn fire lighting up the surrounding area taken just before sunrise. The Unit is seen in the bottom right hand corner.

Barn fire at Barrow

(Right) The Unit providing refreshments to firefighters.












October 2004 saw the group activated to another large fire, this time at Premier Foods, Bury St Edmunds. We were called at 03.00 hrs, and were on site for 13 hours. 25 fire appliances attended, approx 150 firefighters.
42 loaves made into sandwiches and issued 750 hot drinks. In addition to the emergency services, we also refreshed workers who had to evacuate the site.

We were interviewed live on BBC Radio Suffolk, and featured on the local TV news.

Unit on local TV

The picture above is a screen image of the local TV news.

226th Call out

The Group recently responded to a thatch fire involving 3 cottages

Thatch fire at Hitcham, 13 + 6 relief Appliances
31st Jan 09
Refreshed over 120 emergency workers

----------------------------------------------

209th Call out

In attendance at large Hotel Fire, Sudbury

25 Jan 08
100+ Fire fighters, 18 Appliances
____________________________________________________________

The Group was extremely proud to receive the
"Chief Fire Officer's Certificate of Appreciation"
at the
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service Public Protection Directorate Annual Awards Ceremony held on 22nd November 2007.

The citation reads
"Mike Baker leads the Stowmarket Salvation Army Emergency response Unit which was formed in 1979. Mike and his dedicated team of 30 staff provide a welfare and refreshment unit which is available to attend incidents 24 hours a day 365 days a year and is mobilised on request.

All operational firefighters in the county have at some point been heartened to see Mike and his team of volunteers arrive. This year the team attended their 200th incident, a milestone in service and dedication".

Suffolf County Council Award..

Award received from Suffolk Couny Council

L to R: David Morgan, Carol Morgan, Mike Baker, Pat Baker, Major Harry Wilson

_____________________________________________________________

There are always items of equipment which we would like to purchase.
A Transceiver Radio has been donated which will enable us to have a communications link with RAYNET. It is also difficult at times to locate an incident especially in the "small hours", and have been donated a Garmin StreetPilot III "In Car" GPS Satellite Navigation System. We are very grateful and appreciative to those who provide support in this way.

If you would like more information about the activities of the Emergency Response Unit, please e-mail me.
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The owner of this web site is an active member of the Salvation Army in the Stowmarket Corps. This site is NOT officially sanctioned by the Salvation Army. Views expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the position of the Salvation Army, and nothing on this site should be interpreted as a solicitation for contributions to any Salvation Army programme. For official information please visit the Salvation Army Web site at www.salvationarmy.org