More than 50 emergency calls received by HIWFRS Control Room following storm and flooding

Throughout the night and into this morning our Control Room teams have taken more than 50 phone calls, providing advice, and mobilising crews and officers for incidents where life is at risk, following storms and flooding.

Here is a selection of some of the incidents our crews across Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have been dealing with:

Gosport and Fareham firefighters were called to Village Road in Gosport at around 1am this morning after receiving reports of an electrical box ablaze.

Although the fire was extinguished upon arrival, the scene presented additional challenges with significant flooding in the vicinity. Fire crews remained on site to offer aid to vulnerable residents whose homes were impacted by the flooding.

In total, 50 homes were affected, prompting a coordinated response involving partners from the Environment Agency, Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service, and Southern Electricity.

Our dedicated crews diligently supported the operation until the situation was stabilised, at which point the incident was handed over to Gosport Council’s emergency planning team.

At 1:23 am Southampton firefighters responded to an emergency on Weston Parade in Southampton.

Three vehicles had become stranded after driving through floodwaters. Subsequently, two of the vehicles were abandoned, and the third driver was advised to vacate their vehicle promptly.

Navigating through waist-deep water crews assessed the situation and determined that the water levels were visibly receding. The incident was handed over to the Police before the stop message came in at 03:32am

At 01:19 Havant firefighters were mobilised to Peters Road in Hayling Island, after reports of a smoking fuse box. Upon arrival, they encountered high water levels surrounding the fuse box, which had ceased smoking, with no signs of fire.

Providing safety advice to the residents, the crews handed over the incident to the Electrical Board. The stop message was received at 03:19 am.

At 9am firefighters responded to an incident at Oakley Copse in Hayling Island.

Crews from Hayling Island and Cosham, equipped with water rescue gear, successfully assisted two adults who were trapped in their vehicles submerged under 3 feet of water.

The Police have been notified about the incident, and a road closure is anticipated until conditions improve. Crews will be leaving the scene shortly.

“We strongly advise residents against attempting to drive through flooded roads or fords, as the water may be deeper and faster-moving than it appears. During peak periods when resources are not actively deployed, our Control Room operators are available to guide managing flooding situations and can offer contact details for additional assistance, such as Floodline. For information on preparing for flash floods and to stay updated on the latest flood warnings, please visit website for more information.” 

Visit our road safety pages or water rescue and flooding page for more advice.