Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service
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![]() Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service area |
|
Coverage | |
---|---|
Area | Tyne and Wear |
Size | 540 sq. kilometres |
Population | 1.08 million |
Operations | |
Formed | 1974 |
HQ | Barmstomn Mere, Washington |
Staff | |
Stations | 17 |
Chief Fire Officer | Richard Bull |
Website | Tyne and Wear FRS |
Fire Authority | Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority. |
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, formerly Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service which covers the area of Tyne and Wear, England, providing emergency fire cover to a population of 1.08 million people and a geographical area of 540 square kilometres, Its Chief Fire Officer is Richard Bull; its motto is 'Creating the safest community'.[1]
Contents |
[edit] History
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service was formed in 1974, however it had been a requirement, since the passing of the Fire Brigades Act 1938 for local authorities to provide fire cover.[2] Previously fire cover was provided by a number of smaller services[3] In 2004 under the [4] the name of the fire and rescue service's name was changed from Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade to Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, to reflect changes in local authority structure. There have been many fire-related incidents including the great fire of Gateshead. The FRS works closely with Northumbria Police in order to promote community issues.
[edit] Overview
The Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service serves over one million people in Sunderland, Newcastle and Tyneside[5]. The service responded to 24,025 incidents in the period 2004 to 2005, which consisted of 13,060 fires, 8495 false alarms and 2470 special service calls. Of its 15 wholetime, one part-wholetime/part-retained, and one retained fire stations, the FRS operates 48 frontline fire appliances consisting of:
- 31 pumping appliances
- 3 aerial appliances
- 2 emergency tenders
- 7 prime movers
- 1 command support unit
- 1 Rescue tender
- 1 fire boat
- 1 incident response unit
- 1 Operational support unit
[edit] Fire stations
There are currently seventeen fire stations in operation with the FRS. The following table contains information about them:
Community fire station | Community facilities | Location | No. of fire appliances | Status | Call sign |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Birtley | Yes | Durham road | 2 | Wholetime and retained | Whiskey |
Chopwell | Yes | Derwent Street | 1 | Retained | Zulu |
Colby Court | Yes | Elswick road | 3 | Wholetime | Charlie |
Fossway | Yes | Union road | 4 | Wholetime | Foxtrot |
Fulwell | Yes | Station road | 2 | Wholetime | Mike |
Gateshead | Yes | Dryden road | 4 | Wholetime | Victor |
Gosforth | No, (future plans) | Jubilee road | 2 | Wholetime | Echo |
Hebburn | Yes | Victoria road west | 3 | Wholetime | Tango |
Northmoor | Yes | Northmoor road | 2 | Wholetime | Quebec |
Rainton Bridge | Yes | Mercantile road | 2 (1 ambulance) | Wholetime | Hotel |
South Shields | Yes | John Reid road | 2 | Wholetime | Kilo |
Sunderland Central | Yes | Railway row | 5 | Wholetime | November |
Swalwell | Yes | Miller Lane | 3 | Wholetime | Yankee |
Tynemouth | Yes | Preston North Road | 4 (1 ambulance) | Wholetime | Juliet |
Wallsend | Yes | Hadrian Road | 2 | Wholetime | Golf |
Washington | Yes | Glover indutrial estate | 3 | Wholetime | Sierra |
West Denton | Yes | West Denton Way | 3 (inc. 1 command support unit) | Wholetime | Alpha[6] |
[edit] Dennis/Volvo fire appliances
Originally TWFRS Dennis Specialist Vehicles, efficient for fire service use. Over time the service depended less on Dennis appliances and more on Volvo. In recent years it has begun to use more Dennis appliances and it is currently a variation of Volvo and Dennis appliances. Five new Dennis vehicles are on order which are due to be delivered in the Spring of 2007.[citation needed]
[edit] Community fire stations
The intention of community fire stations is to use them as meeting places to discuss fire related issues, as well as offer facilities for local citizens to receive fire safety information if should they require it. Another aim of the community fire stations was to "Provide the community with the highest standards of fire safety and firefighting services available"[7]
[edit] Changes to the fire service
Over the next few years the service will be buying new fire appliances and building several new fire stations. There are currently plans to replace two community fire stations, including those at Tynemouth and Fulwell.[citation needed] The service has currently received another four New Dimension Prime Movers, along with the existing three based at Sunderland Central for urban search and rescue. The emergency tender based at Sunderland Central Fire Station will end its service in March 2007 and will be replaced by a Rescue Tender Pod. A high volume pump pod is also on order for the Service.
[edit] References
- ^ TWFRS: About Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, (accessed 16 Jan 07)
- ^ Creation of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service
- ^ Metropolitan Fire Brigade name change to FRS
- ^ Dept for Communities and Local Govt/TSO: Fire Services Act 2003
- ^ coverage area by TWFRS (accessed 31 Jan '07)
- ^ Stations in operation with TWFRS (accessed 3 Feb '07)
- ^ " Community fire stations-purpose (accessed 31 Jan '07)
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Site of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service
- Official Site of the FIRE KILLS: YOU CAN PREVENT IT! Campaign
- Unofficial Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service Website
- Fire Gateway Website, Fire Safety Information and Fire Service locater
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