Shropshire Firefighters in Menin Gate Tribute

Shropshire firefighters joined colleagues from around the world to commemorate the 30,000th sounding of the Last Post at Belgium’s Menin Gate in honour of the missing war dead in WW1.

Firefighters at Wellington and Shrewsbury fire stations stood to attention as two county buglers played the Last Post at 7pm – the same time as firefighters have sounded the tribute every day since 1928.

Submitted by Elaine Adams on Fri, 10/07/2015 - 09:53

Cultural Diversity Day

This year’s Cultural Diversity Day event is being held in The Square, Shrewsbury on the 25 July 2013. The event will commence at 12 Noon through to 4:30 pm.

There are loads of different things taking place to celebrate diversity, with information stalls, music and dance among others. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service will be attending with the Community Outreach Vehicle and appliance.

A poster is attached with the details. Everyone is welcome so please feel free to come along with family and friends to support the event.

Submitted by Laura Kavanagh-Jones on Tue, 07/07/2015 - 09:57

Shropshire Fire Crews in Farm Fire Exercise

Shropshire firefighters carried out an exercise last night to practice their firefighting skills attending a rural farmhouse "fire".

Firefighters from Craven Arms Fire Station were called out to the scene at an empty cottage at Corfton Farm in Corvedale Road which had been pumped full of white cosmetic smoke to recreate as near as possible the conditions of a house fire.

Farmer Stephen Povall, a South Shropshire parish councillor who owns the cottage, donated the building for the day which is under renovation.

Submitted by Elaine Adams on Thu, 18/06/2015 - 11:02

Farm Fire Practice For Firefighters

A Shropshire farmhouse has been “donated” for a day to firefighters so they can practise their firefighting skills.

The empty cottage under renovation at Corfton Farm in Corvedale Road will be pumped full of white cosmetic smoke next week ready for firefighters from Craven Arms fire station to recreate as near as possible the conditions of a house fire.

Farmer Stephen Povall, a South Shropshire parish councillor who owns the cottage, has helped previously by offering an empty silo for firefighters to train in.

Submitted by Elaine Adams on Fri, 12/06/2015 - 11:51

Beyond the Call of Duty… Awards For Firefighters and Civilians

Firefighters and civilians alike who put their lives at risk to save others were praised for their selfless acts at an awards ceremony held in Shropshire.

Three binmen who rescued an elderly couple from a burning car were honoured alongside firefighters, some who braved terrorist bomb attacks in the 1980s and also fought the largest fire in UK peacetime during a 30 year career with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Submitted by Elaine Adams on Tue, 19/05/2015 - 11:42

Roger Smith - A UK Record Breaking Firefighter

The longest serving current firefighter in the UK is to retire from Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service after a record 48 year career.

Roger Smith (70), a former mayor of Market Drayton, has been fighting fires since 1967 and “hangs up his helmet” at a final drill session at Market Drayton fire station.

Submitted by Elaine Adams on Wed, 13/05/2015 - 17:18

More Women Want To Be Firefighters'

The number of women firefighters joining Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is “slowly growing” with successful taster sessions being held across the county.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, six women toured Craven Arms Fire Station where they met women firefighters, watched a ladder drill and learned about the role of on call firefighters serving at 23 county fire stations.

Submitted by Elaine Adams on Sun, 03/05/2015 - 17:24

Shropshire Employers' 25 Year Support For County Firefighters'

A company which has actively backed Shropshire’s on call firefighters for the past 25 years has been praised for its support.

Chief Fire Officer John Redmond said Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service relied on businesses such as Ludlow’s DMS Plastics which allowed employees, who are also trained firefighters, to “drop tools” at a moment’s notice to respond to 999 calls.

The firm in Lingen Road, Ludlow, currently has one of its 25 staff , employed as an on call firefighter and five previous firefighter employees over the past 25 years.

Submitted by Elaine Adams on Thu, 30/04/2015 - 11:20

Women Who Want To Be Firefighters

An ongoing campaign to encourage more Shropshire women to become part time professional firefighters launches again on Saturday, May 2, with a taster day at Craven Arms fire station.

A similar session held at Craven Arms last year resulted in mother of two Kat Frost (29), enrolling and successfully completing 12 months of training to join firefighting colleagues who turn out at a moment’s notice to respond to 999 calls in the area.

Submitted by Elaine Adams on Thu, 23/04/2015 - 08:54

Electric Fire Safety Tips

Firefighters say people should always call the fire and rescue service if there is a strong smell of burning which is unaccounted for.

John Davies, Watch Manager at Oswestry Fire Station, gave the warning after smouldering electrical wires caught fire under floorboards at a Shropshire phone shop.

Two fire appliances attended the incident at the Get Connected mobile phone shop in Willow Street, Oswestry, after they were called following reports of a burning smell.

Submitted by Elaine Adams on Wed, 15/04/2015 - 10:43

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