Firefighters issue rules on parking after being trapped on narrow road

A fire engine was left stranded in a narrow lane earlier today (Tuesday, July 2) by parked cars obstructing an exit.

Shortly before 2pm this afternoon, one crew from Nailsea Fire Station were called to a large bonfire in Pound Lane, Nailsea. Upon arrival, firefighters used one high pressure hose reel to extinguish the accidental fire.

The crew ran into trouble upon leaving the incident however when the fire engine they attended the scene in was trapped by parked cars obstructing the lane's exit.

Firefighters were left stuck for around 20 minutes before one of the vehicle owners was located and asked to move.

A spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue said: "Thankfully, this was not an emergency situation but Avon Fire & Rescue Service would like to remind drivers to park considerately.

A picture of the fire engine trapped in the narrow lane (@AFRSNailsea)

"Drivers don’t always appreciate the size of a fire truck and park with only enough space for cars to pass. When we manoeuvre through tight streets, we can rarely travel at speed, if at all.

"We would like drivers to just think a little bit more about the space they are leaving, allowing enough space for us to pass. This really can be life or death so minutes of delay can make a big difference."

Earlier this afternoon a spokesperson from Nailsea Fire Station tweeted a picture of the fire engine stuck in the lane, and said: "Please give some thought to emergency service vehicles when parking, we were unable to exit from this lane due to vehicles parked on both sides."

Following this afternoon's incident, Avon Fire and Rescue have reissued the following tips for responsible parking:

• Pull in your wing mirrors (don’t forget to flip them out before driving off)
• Don’t park too close to corners, fire engines are larger than cars and need more room to turn
• If you’re parking opposite someone, remember that a fire engine needs 3m, or two car widths, to pass safely
• Make sure your wheels are straight and not sticking out
• Park as close to the kerb as you can
• Always follow the Highway Code and obey the road markings such as yellow lines and box junctions
• In narrow streets, only park on one side of the road where possible
• Make sure you leave enough space for pedestrians on the pavement
• Don’t block driveways

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