Ormskirk firefighters on duty for Christmas

Dec 24 2009 by Michael Byrne, Ormskirk Advertiser

WHILE the rest of us will be tucking in to our Christmas dinner Ormskirk firefighters will be on duty for Christmas Day to ensure the people of the town are safe.

The Group 2 crew will be at the Aughton Street fire station waiting to deal with any emergency calls.

And firefighters have previously been called out in tragic circumstances during the festive season.

Firefighters from the station had to deal with a fatal fire in Ormskirk.

Pete Farrell and Rob Gonzalez-Green were on duty at Skelmersdale Fire Station on New Year’s Eve about 15 years ago when they were called to a fatal house fire on the town.

Pete said: “We got a woman out of the flat and I was told there was a toddler in there.

“I went into the child’s bedroom but the floor was covered in dolls which was disturbing considering the age of the child.

“Luckily the child wasn’t in the house but the woman died.”

The team will be doing essential duties in the station while they are on duty.

These include maintenance on their equipment.

The firefighters have asked for people to make sure they stay safe this Christmas.