1 person has been pulled from a burning building by firefighters in Bembridge tonight (Thursday).
3 appliances from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service are on scene at Crossway, where smoke is billowing from the upper floors of a block of flats.
Firefighters have entered the property wearing breathing apparatus and have swiftly rescued 1 person from within. The casualty is now being given first aid.
UPDATE @ 21:25 – More resources are responding to the incident, where firefighters are using hose reels and main jets to tackle the fire.
Positive pressure ventilation is being used to rid smoke from the smoke-logged communal areas.
Police are now also in attendance and have closed the road.
UPDATE @ 21:36 – Several appliances from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service are now on scene, alongside a multitude of paramedics and senior officers from the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service.
Fire crews from Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Newport and Cowes are in attendance.
Cordons and privacy screens have been erected on Crossway and Walls Road as emergency crews continue to tend to the injured casualty.
The fire now appears to have been extinguished.
UPDATE @ 22:01 – Coastguard Rescue 175 has been scrambled to Bembridge Airport, where paramedics are preparing to transfer the casualty into the helicopter for onward conveyance to Southampton’s Major Trauma Centre.
The helicopter has landed on the access road to Britten Norman for ease of transfer.
Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance has also been scrambled to Bembridge, but has stood down whilst overhead.
The situation is being treated as life-threatening.
UPDATE – Read more on this story at https://www.islandecho.co.uk/casualty-battling-for-life-after-being-pulled-from-fire-in-bembridge/.
Hope the person has a successful recovery and prayer for all involved to be safe but surely it’s time to question whether having the Bembridge fire service available would of made a significantly safer and better outcome .
No Bembridge fire yet again – awful – how dangerous – hope the person makes a good recovery
I heard Bembridge Fire Station closed down last year after 50 years.