Fire crews sent from West Midlands to help in Cumbria floods as 'major incident' declared
Fire crews from the West Midlands have travelled to Cumbria where a major incident has been declared to help as the area which has been devastated by flooding this weekend.
Fire crews, officers and a High Value Pumping Appliance have been sent by the West Midlands Fire Service to assist Cumbria Fire and Rescue with the severe flooding.
Cumbria was the among the worst affected by the onslaught of Storm Desmond, and British Red Cross teams set up rest centres in Keswick, Appleby and Kendal, while medical groups issued an urgent call to draft in extra doctors amid fears the storm could cause casualties.
A spokesman for the West Midlands Fire Service said: "A major incident has been declared in the region, following heavy rainfall and intense flooding from Storm Desmond.
"WMFS has deployed ten specialist personnel and equipment held and operated by the brigade as part of national emergency arrangements.
"The deployment includes an expert tactical advisor for flooding, a High Volume Pumping Unit (HVPU) and support team from Sheldon Community Fire Station. The tactical advisor is currently involved in operations in Cumbria, supporting colleagues from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service.
"Staff in the Staffordshire and West Midlands Fire Control, working from their emergency centre in Birmingham, have been helping to respond to the high number of 999 calls being received in Cumbria.
"They have also mobilised an HVPU from Rugeley and a boat crew from Newcastle-under-Lyme in Staffordshire."
Adrian Holme, from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, told the BBC the flood was "unprecedented" and "exceptionally challenging".
He said it was "absolutely devastating", adding: "The flood defences that were built here in 2012 haven't been breached, they have been over-topped. We have had 24 hours of constant rain."
He added: "This is absolutely devastating for the town of Keswick. As you can see behind us, the water is huge and there are hundreds of properties that have been devastated and flooded. And some of these people have been flooded three times, our hearts must go out to them."
It is believed that more than 100 people were evacuated from the town.
MeteoGroup forecaster Gemma Plumb said that Shap in Cumbria had 171mm of rain in the 24 hours to 6pm on Saturday night - and another 60mm in the six hours afterwards.
She said weather should dry out later during the day - before more rain heads up from the south west on Sunday night.