A Widnes firefighter has used sign language skills gained through the FBU Union Learning Fund project to help evacuate a man from a row of cottages affected by fire.

John Maddocks successfully passed his British Sign Language Course which he originally took to enable him to better communicate with his five-year-old niece who is hard of hearing, and who herself is learning sign language.

After six months of studying, both theory and practical, John successfully passed all seven course assessment and soon found himself putting his new skills into action when his firefighter watch attended a thatched roof fire at Church End in Hale Village in October 2015.

Jason Fletcher, a watch manager at Widnes Fire Station, said:

Red Watch was called out to a well developed fire in the roof of a thatched cottage in Hale Village. A gentleman who was hard of hearing lived on the row. When crews were evacuating the houses, firefighter Maddocks was able to explain to him using sign language what was happening and to offer him reassurance. 

His sign language skills proved to be a valuable asset during a very challenging incident. His commitment to his own development to secure this sign language qualification has been excellent and I congratulate him on his achievement."