Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

N/A at 20/08/2002 10:47

One of Cornwall County Council’s specialist firefighting vehicles is about to take a summer break in the Channel Islands, as Cornwall County Fire Brigade helps out the tiny States of Guernsey Fire Brigade.

Guernsey – although second largest of the Channel Islands still with an area of only 25 square miles – found itself in a predicament when a recently-purchased vehicle developed a fault, and had to be removed from service.

Through the national network of Fire Brigades, Guernsey established which authorities had similar vehicles, and as Cornwall was the nearest Guernsey Fire Brigade asked whether they could borrow a vehicle for a few months until their own returned to service.

Brigades often exchange vehicles and specialist equipment with neighbours to help deal with short-term needs, so Cornwall was quick to offer the use of one of its fleet of specially-adapted four wheel drive Land Rovers.

Effectively small fire tenders, each is based on a short wheel bass chassis, carries its own water tank with pumping, hose and ladder equipment, and a crew cab for up to five firefighters. Cornwall has several adapted Land Rovers, used for tackling fires in narrow village streets and other locations which are a tight squeeze for full-size tenders, although the fleet is soon to be replaced by purpose-built small tenders.

The Land Rover set off on its ‘island tour’ last Friday, collected by an officer from the States of Guernsey, and after a short sea journey is now brushing up its French and on stand-by for its first call to action!
Co-incidentally, as one brigade vehicle left, two new ones arrived! The vehicle loan to Guernsey comes in the same week that the Cornwall County Fire Brigade took delivery of a new specialist vehicle and boat for dealing with flood and other waterborne disasters (see separate release).

Cornwall’s brigade is gaining a reputation as a willing helper, and has even extended its generosity to assist firefighters in the third world.
In 1998 Sub Officer Peter Stephens helped raise money to give 100 breathing apparatus sets to Africa’s Mombasa Municipal Fire Brigade. This was followed by an air compressor in 2000, and four decommissioned fire tenders in 2001.

Divisional Officer Mike Clayton from the Brigade’s vehicle workshop says, “We are delighted that we’ve been able to assist Guernsey and help our colleagues in a smaller brigade with their vehicle problem. 25 square mile Guernsey is one of the UK’s smallest brigades serving a population of only 60,000. Compare this with Cornwall’s summertime peak of over 800,000 people and one of the largest geographical areas of any English brigade.”
“Whenever another brigade needs our assistance, whether on our doorstep or thousands of miles away in Africa, we try to help as much as we can.”

Related item: http://db.cornwall.gov.uk/fbnews/info/details.asp?ID=180