FIREFIGHTERS had a busy festive period, with preparations for their station Christmas dinner interrupted by a 999 call to a house blaze and another call out on Christmas Day.

Crews from the Whitchurch and Ross-on-Wye stations were getting ready to enjoy a slap-up meal with all the trimmings on Friday, December 21, when a tumble dryer went up in flames at a Symonds Yat West home.

They rushed to the house to extinguish the blaze and managed to prevent the fire causing worse damage using compressed air foam. All residents were safely accounted for.

Station commander for South Herefordshire and Hereford City, Neil Lilwall, attended the blaze and tweeted: “Just attended severe utility room fire with @HWFireRoss @HWFireWchurch. Tonight is the annual Christmas meal for both stations but maintaining appliance availability to serve their local communities remains top priority for on call stations.”

On Christmas Day, crews from both stations rushed to put out a house fire in Orchard End, Wyesham, Monmouth, shortly before 5pm.

The male occupant managed to get out of the two-storey house, and was treated for smoke inhalation.Firefighters from Monmouth and Gloucester also attended the blaze, which is thought the blaze started in a first floor bedroom.Whitchurch firefighters were also in action on Friday, December 28, when they were called to extinguish a “malicious” hay bale fire near Huntsham Bridge in Goodrich.