Fireman Fida

FIREMAN FIDA: the outgoing mayor kitted up to join local fire fighters. PICTURE: DARREN ROBINSON

COUNCILLOR Fida Hussain was on call with firefighters at Oldham Fire Station yesterday as one of his final “duties” as Oldham’s mayor.

Councillor Hussain, whose mayoralty ends on Wednesday, donned fire fighting uniform during his visit alongside Hollinwood councillor Steve Williams, a member of the Greater Manchester and Fire Rescue Service Authority.

The mayor took a tour of the station and was even ready to go out on an emergency call - if the station had received one while he was there...

Councillor Hussain said: “It was a fantastic experience, very informative, I learned a lot about things that as members of the public we don’t see. There’s so much preparation work. I was really pleased to be able to go and see the dedication of the firefighters in Oldham, I’m very proud of them.”

Councillor Hussain’s smile temporarily dropped as he conquered his fear of heights by ascending in the station’s hydraulic platform rig. He laughed it off - once his feet were back on the ground.

“The platform goes up eight storeys high and I admit I asked them to stop half way up”, Councillor Hussain joked.

He added: “I have a fear of heights so I was relieved to get back to the ground - but it was a great experience.”

Phil Courtnell, Red Watch manager at Oldham Fire Station, said: “It was great having the mayor in. He is a very personable gentleman.: