Shropshire's New Chief Fire Officer

The new Chief Fire Officer of Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service has been appointed by Shropshire and Wrekin Fire and Rescue Authority.

Rod Hammerton, the former Deputy Chief Fire Officer, steps up to replace John Redmond, who has retired.

After a short career in the Royal Navy, Rod joined the fire service in Hampshire in 1992 as a firefighter initially serving at Eastleigh Fire Station, near Southampton.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Tue, 26/07/2016 - 10:45

Floods of Praise For Firefighters

A Shropshire firefighter has been praised for the key role he played as part of the UK’s national resilience force battling the worst floods to hit the country for years.

Mac Harris, a firefighter for 28 years, was a top advisor to senior fire chiefs dealing with flooding which devastated towns and villages across the country last year.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Mon, 25/07/2016 - 17:08

On Call Firefighter Recruitment Campaign

A total of 13 people interested in a career as a Shropshire firefighter attended a “taster” session at Prees Fire Station.

Four women turned up to the event organised by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service which wants more women to join its ranks.

Attending the session were women aged between 23 and 54 including a Market Drayton farm manager, a prison service employee, residential care worker and a netball coach.

They learned what it takes to join the county’s 300 plus “on call” fully trained firefighters who deal with around the clock emergencies.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Thu, 21/07/2016 - 12:54

Fire Skills Training At Hospital

A major fire and rescue training exercise took place at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital when firefighters tested their skills in part of the former maternity building.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service used sections of the building to carry out realistic rescues using breathing apparatus and search and rescue techniques.

Fire officers also tested their communication, casualty handling and incident command procedures during the training event on July 9.

A total of 20 firefighters from Shrewsbury and Telford and four fire appliances were at the scene.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Tue, 12/07/2016 - 10:51

Firefighter Recruits Campaign

Wanted: “Ordinary” people to do an “extraordinary” job in Shropshire. That is the job description for on call firefighters who respond to 999 calls in their local community.

The latest taster day when would be recruits can find out if they are “up to the challenge” will be held at Prees Fire Station on Saturday, July 16.

Women and men from across Shropshire are invited to attend the on call firefighting taster day organised by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Wed, 06/07/2016 - 13:01

More Vets Join Pets Campaign

A second Shropshire vets practice has joined the campaign to save the lives of pets in house fires.

Leonard Brothers Veterinary Practice delivered a pet oxygen mask to Whitchurch Fire Station for firefighters to keep aboard their fire appliance among other potentially lifesaving equipment.

It is part of a campaign by the Smokey Paws national charity to have a pet size oxygen mask at every fire station - not just in Shropshire - but across the UK.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Mon, 04/07/2016 - 11:26

Fire Crews In Hospital Training Exercise

A major training exercise will be launched by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service at the weekend (July 9th) when firefighters will test their skills.

They will use part of the disused maternity unit at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to carry out realistic rescues using breathing apparatus and search and rescue techniques.

Fire officers will also test their communication, casualty handling and incident command procedures during the training event on the morning of Saturday, July 9.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Sun, 03/07/2016 - 11:38

Chief Fire Officer To Retire

Shropshire’s Chief Fire Officer John Redmond has announced his retirement after a distinguished 32 year career in the Fire and Rescue Service.

He has led the county brigade through some of the harshest austerity measures ever to hit the fire service slashing £3 million off the budget while keeping open county fire stations faced with closure.

His time in charge was characterised by budget reductions and shrinking resources due the Government’s austerity programme.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Sun, 26/06/2016 - 09:35

Fire Aid To Romania

Three times as many people die in a fire in Romania than in the UK – a stark statistic which has led to a five year Shropshire led campaign to improve survival rates in the eastern European country.

A team of volunteers, both serving and retired staff from Shropshire and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Services set off for an eight day mission to Mures County in Romania on Wednesday (June 15)to donate much needed fire equipment and to provide aid to an “adopted” children’s refuge and old people’s home.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Thu, 16/06/2016 - 10:07

Fire Safety For Shropshire Children

Children and their families will learn all about how to stay safe with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service during Child Safety Week.

Fire crews from across the county are joining forces with health experts to educate young people at a series of events from June 6 to 12.

They will be in Oswestry Town Centre on market day on June 8 with the brigade’s Outreach vehicle to show safety films and give presentations to shoppers and their families and in Telford Shopping Centre near Primark from 9am to 5pm on June 9 and 10.

Submitted by Elaine.Adams on Fri, 03/06/2016 - 10:17

General