Saving lives from fire could earn community man award
A BILLY Row man could win an award from the fire service next month after he visited his neighbours to check they had working smoke detectors.
Harold Wilsher, an active member of the Neighbourhood Watch and Stanley Way resident’s Association, spent three days visiting 44 homes of elderly and vulnerable neighbours to make sure they had suitable fire protection.
Working with Gary Eden from the fire service, Mr Wilsher replaced broken detectors and also installed special smoke alarms and doorbells for the hard of hearing.
Gary who had originally been called out to repair just one detector in Billy Row before Harold identified 43 other homes, nominated him for the Durham Fire Community Spirit award which will be announced on Thursday, November 20.
Gary said: “Harold is such a character in the village and I believe that he alone has done more for fire safety in his community than any other person within the Fire Service or a community.
“He did a sterling job identifying the people who needed smoke detectors.
“I only went to replace on detector but Harold, without anyone asking him to, found 43 other people who we would class as vulnerable and needed new alarms and because of his actions hopefully we have saved 44 lives from fire.
“He also found five people who need the hard of hearing alarms which go under the person’s pillow and vibrate if smoke is detected thus giving them the chance to escape. I just can’t praise him highly enough.”
Harold said: “I’m not one to blow my own trumpet and had hoped to keep it quiet about the award but obviously someone has let the cat out of the bag. It really is an honour to even be considered but that is not why I did it. I want everyone in my community to be safe and I knew most of the people we were visiting and therefore was sure we could help them.”