Firefighter Freddie Springs into Action
An on-call firefighter who plays for Perranporth RFC saved the day when he spotted smoke coming from the clubhouse.
Perranporth RFC’s 1st XV, also known as The Brewers, were warming up ahead of their fixture against Wadebridge Camels 2nd XV when, as second row Freddie Martin jumped for the ball in lineout practice, he spotted smoke emerging from their clubhouse.
The small building, which has been a staple of the village’s rugby club in the years since its inception in 1962, came under threat when attempts to light the open fireplace for the first time this season took a turn for the worse and a fire broke out in the chimney.
Freddie, who is a serving firefighter in Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, quickly responded when he saw the smoke, racing up to the clubhouse to extinguish the fire and taking the phrase ‘warming up’ to new levels.
“Before our game we were out on the pitch doing our warm-up drills and I could hear a fire alarm going off somewhere. As I was being lifted up in the lineout I looked over to the club and saw smoke. It was at that point I realised where the noise was coming from!
“When I came down, I set off in the direction of the clubhouse. My teammates wondered where I was running off to but they soon clocked on when they noticed the smoke.
“This was the first time the open fire was lit since last season, and some birds had decided to nest in the chimney. The nest caught fire and was chucking smoke up and down the chimney, so there was smoke everywhere.
“It was actually the club chairman who lit the fire! When I got there the room was filled with smoke, but I was able to put it out with a fire extinguisher and get the doors open to get rid of it."
Freddie and the team kept their focus despite the pre-match drama and went on to win 55-5, and as a thank you for his efforts, he was rewarded with a free pint after the final whistle.
This wasn’t the first time Freddie has had to spring into action at training. He’s had to abandon rugby for firefighting twice before, making a run to the village fire station which is located just down the road from the club.
“I’ve actually had a shout during training before. You have to respond quickly, so I ended up having to run down the street in my rugby boots!”
As temperatures begin to drop in the winter months and people look to warm their homes with open fires, it's worth getting your chimney checked out, says Freddie.
"Chimney fires are always more common in the winter months as people begin to use their open fires more often. We recommend getting your chimneys inspected by a qualified professional at least once a year."
