The High Sheriff of Shropshire reached new heights this week when he visited Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Shrewsbury headquarters.
During the visit on Monday High Sheriff Robert Bland and his wife, Tricia, climbed aboard an ALP, an aerial ladder platform, and were lifted almost 50 feet above the main drill yard.
In what turned out to be an action-packed visit, Mrs Bland also volunteered to be cut free from a wrecked car in a carefully staged mock road traffic collision. Firefighters used specialist cutting equipment to free Mrs Bland from the wreckage whilst the High Sheriff looked on.
After stepping clear of the wreckage Mrs Bland said: “The cutting gear made a huge amount of noise and it was a bit unnerving when they lifted the roof off the car but it was fascinating to see the firefighters working so expertly to free me.”
The High Sheriff was also impressed by the demonstration and his wife’s part in it. “My wife and I don’t usually expect to be part of a road accident during visits like this but it is certainly a dramatic and impressive way to see just how professional our firefighters are.
During his two-hour visit the High Sheriff, accompanied by chief fire officer, John Redmond, was shown around key headquarters departments, including the fire control room where all emergency calls are handled.
He also met and chatted to members of the business fire safety and community fire safety teams and praised the work the teams do in helping reduce the number of fires in businesses and homes in Shropshire. “I was very interested to hear about the work the fire prevention teams carry out with businesses and homeowners to promote safety and prevent fires and other emergencies. The work they do with young people is particularly impressive,” Mr Bland said
