Youngsters get to grips with firefighting Bognor Fire Station at open day

The ten-year-olds became junior firefighters at the annual open day at the town's fire station.

They took it in turns to put out the blazes in two wooden house fronts.

They had to train the hose on the flames in the eight windows and door of one house and the four windows and door of the other fascia.

Lily, from Uckfield, said: "It was really hard because I can't get the water to go on the flames. The jet of water kept going up so I had to keep it down and straight."

Calum, of Pagham, said: "It was good fun to do. I had a go with a real hose once when a haystack caught fire down Summer Lane.

"When the fire was out, the fireman let us have a go with the hose and it was more powerful than the one we've just used."

The pair were among hundreds of visitors who went along to the West Meads Drive fire station last Saturday.

Dick Sargent, one of its watch managers, said: "It's been a good day and well attended with a lot of donations to the fire service's charity.

"I hope we've got across the casualty reduction and fire safety message as well as giving people a good time."

The attractions included two drills by the fire cadets based at the fire station, plenty of appliances for the visitors to look around and rides around the surrounding roads in two fire engines.

Chip pan fire demonstrations, a fire engine driving simulator and a display about cutting open a vehicle after a road traffic accident also kept the crowds entertained.

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