FIRECREWS from Newton Abbot assisted the ambulance service last night (Thursday) to gain entry to a property in Queen Street in the town.
On arriving at the scene arrival crews were able to gain access to the building but not the flat without causing damage to the door.
Fortunately it was noticed that the top floor window to the occupier’s flat was open and in order to prevent causing unnecessary damage the incident commander requested Newton Abbot’s second appliance with its 13.5 metre high ladder to attend.
With the swift arrival of the second fire enngine crews quickly pitched the ladder to the second floor window and sent two crew members into the property to assess the situation and open the door internally so paramedics could enter.
Gain-entry call outs are now becoming more common place following an agreement made between the regional fire and rescue and ambulance services and this was a prime example of the two hard-working services coming up with a plan to resolve a challenging situation rapidly.