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Pylon fire causes traffic chaos on A404 (From Bucks Free Press)
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Pylon fire causes traffic chaos on A404
2:50pm Friday 14th September 2012 in News By Lawrence Dunhill
A PYLON fire and fallen electricity cables have caused traffic chaos on the A404 near Maidenhead today.
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said this afternoon: "Emergency services are currently at the scene of a pylon fire at the side of the A404 in Burchetts Green, Maidenhead.
"Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service called Thames Valley Police at 12.28pm, to report a wooden pylon between the Burchetts Green roundabout and the A404M was on fire and road closures were required.
"The fire has now been extinguished and it is hoped a temporary repair can be made this afternoon to allow the road to be re-opened, before the damage to the pylon is permanently repaired when the roads are quieter.
"The A404 is closed both ways between junction 9B of the A404M up to the Burchetts Green roundabout. Police resources are also on the M4 in an attempt to stop traffic coming off the M4 onto the A404M and then the A404.
"Traffic in the area is very heavy and motorists are advised to avoid the area and plan alternative routes."
Comments(17)
Billy_Gean
says...
3:41pm Fri 14 Sep 12
stevet123
says...
3:58pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Billy_Gean wrote:I agree with you on that, but costly, perhaps the Police can get compo from the electricity people
The helicopter unit would not have been scrambled if it was not deemed to be needed by Police operatives. The helicopter can come in use for many things, such as looking over traffic on surrounding roads, working out where police are needed and to direct them to that location. For example, as mentioned in the post, the M4 has police presence on it, assisting with this issue. This could well have been an outcome of scrambling the helicopter unit. So no, I would not agree it is a big waste of anyone's money, yet a useful resource that we should be glad to have available.
Billy_Gean
says...
4:15pm Fri 14 Sep 12
stevet123 wrote:Quite possibly.
Billy_Gean wrote:I agree with you on that, but costly, perhaps the Police can get compo from the electricity people
The helicopter unit would not have been scrambled if it was not deemed to be needed by Police operatives. The helicopter can come in use for many things, such as looking over traffic on surrounding roads, working out where police are needed and to direct them to that location. For example, as mentioned in the post, the M4 has police presence on it, assisting with this issue. This could well have been an outcome of scrambling the helicopter unit. So no, I would not agree it is a big waste of anyone's money, yet a useful resource that we should be glad to have available.
Miss Palmer
says...
5:53pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Miss Palmer
says...
5:53pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Gaulnut
says...
11:29pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Voyeur
says...
8:45am Sat 15 Sep 12
Scarletto
says...
11:08am Sat 15 Sep 12
listerps2
says...
12:12pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Scarletto wrote:how do you know how many officers were involved and that responses to 999 calls were hindered?
30 officers, plus several traffic operatives from the Highways Agency in their similarly marked 4x4s, were soon involved with this operation and there was no real need for the chopper. Boys with their expensive toys! Meanwhile responses to 999 calls were hindered because of officers committed to this incident.
The danger of a fire on a pylon is immense and fallen electricity cables. The use of the helicopter IMO will most probably have been for several reasons - assisting with reports for traffic over a wide and use of the thermocam - we have no idea if this was arson or not? When copters are deployed there is reason.
Oh and women also fly helicopters in the police force - a little sexist your comment there!
Scarletto
says...
4:39pm Sat 15 Sep 12
listerps2
says...
6:25pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Scarletto wrote:So heresay then? Thanks for clarifying.
Details apparently came from a police informant... Some areas had reduced police coverage during this incident too and requests for helicopter cover to other incidents were downgraded.
Oh and you do know a police informant is just somebody who tells the police information about crimes and wouldn't know anything about numbers of officers or helicopter deployment.
allrightnow2
says...
10:13pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Billy_Gean
says...
11:08pm Sat 15 Sep 12
Well done to all the emergency services whom were involved! Most of the time their work is just discarded due to the selfishness of people in this modern day, however, I for one think that they deserve loads of praise with this just being a pure example of the fantastic work they do! :)
listerps2
says...
7:16am Sun 16 Sep 12
allrightnow2 wrote:Totally agree with you - think some people have a common sense chip missing ;-)
Isn't that generally what happens when there is a larger incident? Officers from other areas are re-deployed as they are needed so a consequence is reduced police coverage in those areas just while the incident is being dealt with...
listerps2
says...
7:18am Sun 16 Sep 12
Billy_Gean wrote:Absolutely
If a much larger crisis happened and the police helicopter needed to be there instead, it would have just been instructed to re-route. The situation at hand sounded like it was dealt with very efficiently. Even though there may have been delays, no one was harmed as far as I am aware which is fantastic considering the scale of the fire and possible dangers that could have happened.
Well done to all the emergency services whom were involved! Most of the time their work is just discarded due to the selfishness of people in this modern day, however, I for one think that they deserve loads of praise with this just being a pure example of the fantastic work they do! :)
Drew70
says...
12:30am Wed 19 Sep 12
Scarletto wrote:so the helicopter is an expensive "toy" When it was hovering above two dog walkers who had fallen into marshy ground and were at risk of drowning, so the emergency services could get to them, was it an expensive toy?
30 officers, plus several traffic operatives from the Highways Agency in their similarly marked 4x4s, were soon involved with this operation and there was no real need for the chopper. Boys with their expensive toys! Meanwhile responses to 999 calls were hindered because of officers committed to this incident.
When it landed in a field at midnight, so a seriously injured motorcyclist could be transported to hospital ( The air ambulance can't night fly) was it an expensive toy?
When it helped locate two burglars who had run from their stolen car, was it an expensive toy?
If your house gets burgled, and the "toy" helps catch the burglars, or helps find your missing child, or elderly relative, will it be just an expensive toy then? It's a hugely valuable piece of equipment that gets results!
Scarletto says...
3:30pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Was puzzled by long and costly hovering attendance by police helicopter as it was all being dealt with by ground teams below. Big waste of our money?