Cornwall County Fire Brigade
Encyclopedia
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service
covering Cornwall
in the United Kingdom.
The brigade employs 428 retained firefighter
s, 201 full-time firefighters, plus over 120 support and administrative staff. Created under the Fire Services Act 1947
as "Cornwall Fire Brigade", the name changed to "Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service" on October 1, 2009, leaving London
and Cleveland
as the only two UK fire services to use the name "Fire Brigade".
For organisational purposes the Fire Service is divided into three divisions: Eastern, Central and Western. The service is administered by Cornwall Council, headquartered in Truro
.
As part of the FiReControl
project, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Services' control room was planned to switch over to the regional control centre in Taunton
, Somerset. Originally scheduled to take place in July 2010, the cutover date was revised to January 2012,
however the plan was scrapped in December 2010.
The Service operates a variety of fire appliances
including water rescue ladders, water rescue tenders, light 4x4 tenders and pumps, as well as specialist vehicles for operational support, marine support, environmental support and command support.
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Rescue Tender, Line Rescue Unit, Incident Response Unit);
Falmouth
(2 Water Rescue Ladders, Light 4x4 Pump, Operational Support Unit, Marine Support Unit, Boat)
(Water Rescue Ladder, 4x4 Water Rescue Tender, Light 4x4 Pump, Environmental Support Unit )
Newquay
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Aerial Ladder Platform x2, High Volume Pump x2, USAR
Derobing Unit);
St. Austell
(Water Tender Ladder, 4x4 Water Rescue Tender, Operational Support Unit);
Truro
(Water Rescue Ladder, 4x4 Water Rescue Tender, Command Support Unit, Aerial Ladder Platform)
Bodmin
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Rescue Tender, Line Rescue Unit, Light 4x4 Pump, Incident Response Unit, Environmental Support Unit)
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump (co-responder), Water Carrier);
Mullion
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump (co-responder));
Perranporth
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Redruth
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
St. Ives
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Light 4x4 Pump);
St. Just
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump, Command Unit);
St. Keverne
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump (co-responder))
Fowey
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Mevagissey
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Padstow
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Polruan
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
St. Columb
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
St. Dennis (Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump, Welfare Unit);
St. Mawes
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump, co-responder car)
Bude
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Light 4x4 Pump);
Callington (Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Delabole
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Launceston (Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Ladder);
Liskeard
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Water Carrier);
Looe
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump, Limited Access Vehicle (LAV));
Lostwithiel
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Saltash
(Water Tender Ladder, Water Rescue Tender);
Torpoint
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Wadebridge
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump, Water Carrier)
to provide emergency medical cover to area of Cornwall. These are areas that have been identified as having a greater need for ambulance
cover. The aim of a co-responder
team is to preserve life until the arrival of either a Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) or an ambulance. Co-responder vehicles are equipped with oxygen and automated external defibrillator
(AED) equipment.
The fire stations operating as co-responders are:
The workshop also houses the stores, including both clothing and equipment, and holds over 7,000 items including operational equipment like branches and radios, and clothing from tunics to dress uniforms. This is always updated to ensure any equipment or clothing needed is ready to be dispatched immediately to wherever it is needed.
The workshops also maintain all of the operational equipment, from repairing the lengths of hoses to the breathing apparatus (BA) sets; this is carried out by the specialist “hose shop” also located on-site.
Emergency repair is available 24/7 through an “on call” system where mechanics take turns to provide 24-hour service if an appliance or equipment becomes defective.
There are occasions when a Water Tender would instead be mobilised first to keep the Water Tender Ladder available; the Water Tender may attend incidents where a house is flooded or persons have locked themselves out.
Their major capabilities include pumping up to 2,000 litres (440 gallons) per minute between two locations. It has a storage capacity of 1,850 litres (396 gallons). The pump carries a 13.5 metre (44 ft) ladder, a short extension ladder and a roof ladder.
The 4x4 appliances have the capability to carry a crew of up to four. Some carry four sets of breathing apparatus in the cab. The appliance carries a limited amount of equipment (due to its size). These vehicles tend to be Toyota Hilux
es, Vauxhall Bravas or Landrovers.
814D-derived vehicle as well as 2 modified Mercedes Sprinter Vans. They are mobilised to any incident over 4 pumps or by request of the incident commander. The CSU's carries specialist equipment to be able to effectively take control of any situation. In the rear of the unit are specialised computers with links to chemical identification databases and aerial maps. The command support units are also fitted with satellite systems and external Television screen which can show maps to senior officers viewing from outside
The vehicle's are crewed by both officers and firefighters and are able to communicate with fire control as well as officers and firefighters on the fire ground. It is also acts as a booking in centre for arriving crews.
The two Line Rescue Units (LRU's) are based on a Mercedes-Benz 1124 4x4 chassis with a Hiab
crane on the rear of the vehicle and a Mercedes Atego chassis. Both units carry specialist rope rescue equipment as well as powerful winches and lighting units. The LRU also carries confined space packs which are used when casualties are trapped in a small space such as a mine. AS the same with the RT's heavy duty winches are mounted on the vehicles to help in pulling or supporting an object.
, gives fire services the power to assist other fire services or fire authorities in what is known as mutual assistance.
The fire services that adjoin Cornwall are as follows:
This incident saw possibly the largest fire brigade attendance in UK history: 78 different brigades (with over 200 appliances, 147 of which responded from London Fire Brigade
) and 38 different military units spread detergent and pumped out contaminated water. The cleanup lasted months and the brigades stayed on-site throughout working 24/7. Cornwall Fire Brigade set up a workshop near the Lizard to maintain the appliances on-site whilst refilling them and portable pumps with petrol. In the height of the operation over 1,600 personnel were on scene.
A fire broke out at the Queens Wharf dock and spanned 360 ft; the dock was well alight. 11 appliances attended as well as a fireboat, which surveyed the situation from the bay.
The first call came into Fire Control in Truro at 16:00 to report a person trapped in a car with the water rising. At 17:30 a major incident was declared and search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose
along with other helicopters throughout the Southwest assisted the fire brigade and Coastguard in evacuating people. 25 appliances attended the scene along with a further 22 for relief purposes. Although the brigade could not do anything with regards to the pumping out of water they assisted searching for persons trapped in their cars and homes and helped bring them to safety via the RNAS search and rescue helicopter. The brigade also carried out salvage work once the water had receded. The brigade were in attendance for a number of days with nearly the whole of the brigades pumping resources in attendance as either first response or as a relief crew.
The first 999 call was received at 00:17; crews from Newquay were first on scene and requested further appliances to attend. The fire consumed all three floors of the hotel and three people died at the scene. 25 appliances attended with support appliances; Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
also provided a turntable ladder, officers and USAR assistance. The cause of the fire is believed to be arson, but no one has been charged. As of the outcome to the incident questions were raised over the retained staffing levels at Newquay fire station and the brigades lack of operational aerial ladder platforms.
The Fish Factory ship the Athena caught fire 230 miles of the southwest coast of the isles of Scilly. 98 of the 111 crew were forced to abandon ship into the life rafts, these were picked up by the container ship the Vega. The Athena was then taken under tow to Falmouth bay where Cornwall Fire and Rescue's MIRG (Marine Incident Response Group) was then flow out by helicopter to the ship.Once on board the started to fight the fire in the hold of the ship which contained around 600,000 cardboard boxes. However in the early hours of the morning they were forced to evacuate after carbon monoxide levels reached a dangerous level, a couple of firefighters were taken to hospital. The ship is now in control of a salvage team who are finding the best outcome for the ship.
During the night and the early hours of the 16/17 November torrential rain hit the south coast of Cornwall, the ground became saturated and water began to run off of the surrounding fields into the already overflowing rivers causing many to burst their banks. The worst places hit by the storm were Mevagissey, Lostwithiel, The Glynn Valley, St.Blazey, Portloe, St.Austell and Pentewan. Many places saw 3 to 4 foot of water flooding hundreds of home and shops and causing landslides. Cornwall FRS deployed appliances to the worst hit areas to pump out shops, roads and homes and to assist with salvage work. Around midday Devon and Cornwall police declared the scenes and a Major Incident. Fortunately there were no casualties.
At around 8:00am a worker was changing over an acetylene cylinder when the tank began to vent and ignited, this in turn ignited other venting tanks. On arrival of the brigade a 300M . cordon was put in place which required surrounding houses and the docks to be evacuated. The brigade extinguished the initial fire but then had to cool the cylinders constantly for 24hrs to prevent the cylinders for exploding due to the heat and pressure build up. In total Cornwall FRS sent 6 pumping appliances, 1 command support unit, 1 operational support unit, 1 welfare vehicle. The incident lasted for 24hrs and required numerous relief crews to attend over night.
Fire service in the United Kingdom
The fire services in the United Kingdom operate under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
covering Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in the United Kingdom.
The brigade employs 428 retained firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s, 201 full-time firefighters, plus over 120 support and administrative staff. Created under the Fire Services Act 1947
Fire Services Act 1947
-General Arrangement of the Act:-Scotland:The FRSA 2004 extended only to England and Wales, thus leaving the FSA 1947 in force in Scotland. Most of the 1947 Act was later repealed by the FSA 2005, which left ss...
as "Cornwall Fire Brigade", the name changed to "Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service" on October 1, 2009, leaving London
London Fire Brigade
The London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for London.Founded in 1865, it is the largest of the fire services in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest in the world with nearly 7,000 staff, including 5,800 operational firefighters based in 112 fire...
and Cleveland
Cleveland Fire Brigade
Cleveland Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service covering the boroughs of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland & Stockton-on-Tees in the North East of England. The name originates from the former county of Cleveland which was abolished in 1996...
as the only two UK fire services to use the name "Fire Brigade".
For organisational purposes the Fire Service is divided into three divisions: Eastern, Central and Western. The service is administered by Cornwall Council, headquartered in Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
.
As part of the FiReControl
FiReControl
FiReControl was a project, initiated in the UK in March 2004, to reduce the number of control rooms used to handle emergency calls for fire services and authorities. Presently there are 46 control rooms in England that handle calls from the local public for emergency assistance via the 999 system...
project, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Services' control room was planned to switch over to the regional control centre in Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, Somerset. Originally scheduled to take place in July 2010, the cutover date was revised to January 2012,
however the plan was scrapped in December 2010.
Fire stations
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service operates 31 fire stations, of which two are crewed day and night (wholetime), five are day-crewed (Monday to Sunday, 07:00 to 19:00) and the remainder are crewed by retained firefighters, who live near to their fire station and can arrive there within five minutes of a call being received. The breakdown of stations is as follows:- 2 wholetime/retained stations
- 5 day-crewed stations/retained stations
- 24 retained stations
The Service operates a variety of fire appliances
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
including water rescue ladders, water rescue tenders, light 4x4 tenders and pumps, as well as specialist vehicles for operational support, marine support, environmental support and command support.
Wholetime/retained stations
CamborneCamborne
Camborne is a town and civil parish in west Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is at the western edge of a conurbation comprising Camborne, Pool and Redruth....
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Rescue Tender, Line Rescue Unit, Incident Response Unit);
Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
(2 Water Rescue Ladders, Light 4x4 Pump, Operational Support Unit, Marine Support Unit, Boat)
Day-crewed/Retained stations
PenzancePenzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
(Water Rescue Ladder, 4x4 Water Rescue Tender, Light 4x4 Pump, Environmental Support Unit )
Newquay
Newquay
Newquay is a town, civil parish, seaside resort and fishing port in Cornwall, England. It is situated on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall approximately west of Bodmin and north of Truro....
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Aerial Ladder Platform x2, High Volume Pump x2, USAR
Urban search and rescue
Urban search and rescue involves the location, extrication, and initial medical stabilization of victims trapped in confined spaces due to natural disasters, structural collapse, transportation accidents, mines and collapsed trenches.USAR teams in different countries may be organised in a...
Derobing Unit);
St. Austell
St Austell
St Austell is a civil parish and a major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the south coast approximately ten miles south of Bodmin and 30 miles west of the border with Devon at Saltash...
(Water Tender Ladder, 4x4 Water Rescue Tender, Operational Support Unit);
Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
(Water Rescue Ladder, 4x4 Water Rescue Tender, Command Support Unit, Aerial Ladder Platform)
Bodmin
Bodmin
Bodmin is a civil parish and major town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated in the centre of the county southwest of Bodmin Moor.The extent of the civil parish corresponds fairly closely to that of the town so is mostly urban in character...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Rescue Tender, Line Rescue Unit, Light 4x4 Pump, Incident Response Unit, Environmental Support Unit)
Retained stations
HelstonHelston
Helston is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated at the northern end of the Lizard Peninsula approximately 12 miles east of Penzance and nine miles southwest of Falmouth. Helston is the most southerly town in the UK and is around further south than...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump (co-responder), Water Carrier);
Mullion
Mullion, Cornwall
Mullion is a civil parish and village in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated on the Lizard Peninsula approximately five miles south of Helston....
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump (co-responder));
Perranporth
Perranporth
Perranporth is a small seaside resort on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is southwest of Newquay and northwest of Truro. Perranporth and its long beach face the Atlantic Ocean....
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Redruth
Redruth
Redruth is a town and civil parish traditionally in the Penwith Hundred in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It has a population of 12,352. Redruth lies approximately at the junction of the A393 and A3047 roads, on the route of the old London to Land's End trunk road , and is approximately west of...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
St. Ives
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Light 4x4 Pump);
St. Just
St Just in Penwith
St Just is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The parish encompasses the town of St Just and the nearby settlements of Trewellard, Pendeen and Kelynack: it is bounded by the parishes of Morvah to the north-east, Sancreed and Madron to the east, St Buryan and Sennen to...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump, Command Unit);
St. Keverne
St Keverne
St Keverne is a civil parish and village on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, United Kingdom.The Cornish Rebellion of 1497 started in St Keverne. The leader of the rebellion Michael An Gof was a blacksmith from St Keverne and is commemorated by a statue in the village...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump (co-responder))
Fowey
Fowey
Fowey is a small town, civil parish and cargo port at the mouth of the River Fowey in south Cornwall, United Kingdom. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,273.-Early history:...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Mevagissey
Mevagissey
Mevagissey is a village, fishing port and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village is situated approximately five miles south of St Austell....
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Padstow
Padstow
Padstow is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately five miles northwest of Wadebridge, ten miles northwest of Bodmin and ten miles northeast of Newquay...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Polruan
Polruan
Polruan is a small fishing village in the parish of Lanteglos-by-Fowey in Cornwall, England, UK. It is bounded on three sides by water: to the north by Pont Creek, to the west by the River Fowey and to the south by the English Channel and neighbours village Bodinnick to the north, connected by a 4...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
St. Columb
St Columb Major
St Columb Major is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. Often referred to locally as St Columb, it is situated approximately seven miles southwest of Wadebridge and six miles east of Newquay...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
St. Dennis (Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump, Welfare Unit);
St. Mawes
St Mawes
St Mawes is a small town opposite Falmouth, on the Roseland Peninsula on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It lies on the east bank of the Carrick Roads, a large waterway created after the Ice Age from an ancient valley which flooded as the melt waters caused the sea level to...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump, co-responder car)
Bude
Bude
Bude is a small seaside resort town in North Cornwall, England, at the mouth of the River Neet . It lies just south of Flexbury, north of Widemouth Bay and west of Stratton and is located along the A3073 road off the A39. Bude is twinned with Ergué-Gabéric in Brittany, France...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Light 4x4 Pump);
Callington (Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Delabole
Delabole
Delabole is a large village in north Cornwall, England, UK. It is situated approximately two miles west of Camelford.The village of Delabole came into existence in the 20th century; it is named after the Delabole Quarry. There were three hamlets: Pengelly, Medrose and Rockhead...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Launceston (Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Ladder);
Liskeard
Liskeard
Liskeard is an ancient stannary and market town and civil parish in south east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.Liskeard is situated approximately 20 miles west of Plymouth, west of the River Tamar and the border with Devon, and 12 miles east of Bodmin...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Water Rescue Tender, Water Carrier);
Looe
Looe
Looe is a small coastal town, fishing port and civil parish in the former Caradon district of south-east Cornwall, England, with a population of 5,280 . Looe is divided in two by the River Looe, East Looe and West Looe being connected by a bridge...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump, Limited Access Vehicle (LAV));
Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel
Lostwithiel is a civil parish and small town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom at the head of the estuary of the River Fowey. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,739...
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Saltash
Saltash
Saltash is a town and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a population of 14,964. It lies in the south east of Cornwall, facing Plymouth over the River Tamar. It was in the Caradon district until March 2009 and is known as "the gateway to Cornwall". Saltash means ash tree by...
(Water Tender Ladder, Water Rescue Tender);
Torpoint
Torpoint
Torpoint is a civil parish and town on the Rame Peninsula in southeast Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated opposite the city of Plymouth across the Hamoaze which is the tidal estuary of the River Tamar....
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump);
Wadebridge
Wadebridge
Wadebridge is a civil parish and town in north Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town straddles the River Camel five miles upstream from Padstow....
(Water Rescue Ladder, Light 4x4 Pump, Water Carrier)
Co-responder stations
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service works in partnership with South Western Ambulance ServiceSouth Western Ambulance Service
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is the authority responsible for providing ambulance services for the National Health Service in the English counties of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset...
to provide emergency medical cover to area of Cornwall. These are areas that have been identified as having a greater need for ambulance
Ambulance
An ambulance is a vehicle for transportation of sick or injured people to, from or between places of treatment for an illness or injury, and in some instances will also provide out of hospital medical care to the patient...
cover. The aim of a co-responder
Fire Service Co Responders
Seventeen Fire Services work with nine Ambulance Services to provide emergency medical cover in areas that have been identified as having a greater need for ambulance cover. The aim of a co-responder team is to preserve life until the arrival of either a Rapid Response Vehicle or an ambulance...
team is to preserve life until the arrival of either a Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV) or an ambulance. Co-responder vehicles are equipped with oxygen and automated external defibrillator
Automated external defibrillator
An automated external defibrillator or AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the potentially life threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient, and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of...
(AED) equipment.
The fire stations operating as co-responders are:
- Helston
- Mullion
- St. Keverne
- St. Mawes
Workshop and stores
The Service workshop and stores are located at the rear of Camborne fire station. The workshop contains three pit bays, one HGV ramp bay, one car and van ramp bay and a spraying bay. The setup enables up to six vehicles to be in the workshop at any one time.The workshop also houses the stores, including both clothing and equipment, and holds over 7,000 items including operational equipment like branches and radios, and clothing from tunics to dress uniforms. This is always updated to ensure any equipment or clothing needed is ready to be dispatched immediately to wherever it is needed.
The workshops also maintain all of the operational equipment, from repairing the lengths of hoses to the breathing apparatus (BA) sets; this is carried out by the specialist “hose shop” also located on-site.
Emergency repair is available 24/7 through an “on call” system where mechanics take turns to provide 24-hour service if an appliance or equipment becomes defective.
Fire appliances
Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service uses a variety of front-line and specialist appliances:Water rescue ladder (WRL)
Also referred to as the 'first away' appliance, it is usually mobilised to every incident. It carries an array of equipment including crash rescue equipment (CRE), breathing apparatus, water rescue equipment and a thermal imaging camera.There are occasions when a Water Tender would instead be mobilised first to keep the Water Tender Ladder available; the Water Tender may attend incidents where a house is flooded or persons have locked themselves out.
Their major capabilities include pumping up to 2,000 litres (440 gallons) per minute between two locations. It has a storage capacity of 1,850 litres (396 gallons). The pump carries a 13.5 metre (44 ft) ladder, a short extension ladder and a roof ladder.
Water rescue tender (WRT)
Also referred to as the "second away". These appliances are broadly similar to the Water Tender Ladders, but carry a different range of equipment, with ladders up to 10.5 metres (34 ft). They are not the primary responder to a road traffic collision, despite carrying hydaulic cutting equipment. The water tenders are used to support water tender ladders at fires and to attend miscellaneous calls. Some Second Away appliances have the advantage of being 4x4 and sometimes they will be the first appliance to respond in harsh weathers such as snow, fire control may also mobiles the second away to turn out first if the incident is situated in a field and the all wheel drive would be necessary. A water tender, like its counterpart, is capable of carrying up to six firefighters.Light 4x4 appliances
Light appliances are based on a 4x4 chassis and designed with off-road capability. These appliances would be requested, or mobilised with the main appliance, to incidents that may be difficult to reach - either due to narrow roads or the terrain. The co-responder units tend to be the light 4x4 appliances allowing a faster response time, and to keep the main appliance available. These vehicles have a lightweight pump mounted on the back which feeds either a hosereel or 75 mm hose. They can also be fed by a small on-board water tank or from a hydrant.The 4x4 appliances have the capability to carry a crew of up to four. Some carry four sets of breathing apparatus in the cab. The appliance carries a limited amount of equipment (due to its size). These vehicles tend to be Toyota Hilux
Toyota Hilux
The Toyota Hilux is a series of compact pickup trucks produced and marketed by the Toyota Motor Corporation. Most countries used the Hilux name for the entire life of the series but in North America, the Hilux name was retired in 1976 in favor of Truck, Pickup Truck, or Compact Truck...
es, Vauxhall Bravas or Landrovers.
Command support unit
The Command Support Unit is a Mercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
814D-derived vehicle as well as 2 modified Mercedes Sprinter Vans. They are mobilised to any incident over 4 pumps or by request of the incident commander. The CSU's carries specialist equipment to be able to effectively take control of any situation. In the rear of the unit are specialised computers with links to chemical identification databases and aerial maps. The command support units are also fitted with satellite systems and external Television screen which can show maps to senior officers viewing from outside
The vehicle's are crewed by both officers and firefighters and are able to communicate with fire control as well as officers and firefighters on the fire ground. It is also acts as a booking in centre for arriving crews.
Rescue tender'S (RT)/ Line Rescue Unit's (LRU)
The Rescue tender's are based on a Mercedes Atego Chassis. The RT's are mobilised by the incident commander or though a pre-determined attendance. It carries specialised cutting and spreading equipment, lifting gear, supporting tools, and lighting units.The RT is also fitted with a heavy duty winch mounted at the front of the vehicle which enables it to pull or support objects. It is crewed by specially-trained wholetime and retained firefighters from Camborne and Bodmin fire stations.The two Line Rescue Units (LRU's) are based on a Mercedes-Benz 1124 4x4 chassis with a Hiab
Hydrauliska Industri AB
Hydrauliska Industri AB is a Finnish manufacturer of loader cranes, demountable container handlers, forestry cranes, truck-mounted forklifts and tail lifts. In some countries, 'HIAB' is used as a synonym for a loader crane of any make...
crane on the rear of the vehicle and a Mercedes Atego chassis. Both units carry specialist rope rescue equipment as well as powerful winches and lighting units. The LRU also carries confined space packs which are used when casualties are trapped in a small space such as a mine. AS the same with the RT's heavy duty winches are mounted on the vehicles to help in pulling or supporting an object.
Operational Support Vehicle (OSV)
The 2 operational support vehicles are based on mercedes sprinter chassis and are based at Falmouth and St.Austell fire stations. They provide extra equipment such as extra breathing apparatus cylinders as well as dry suits and water/mud inflatable rescue platforms, because of this water rescue capability they are usually sent as part of the attendance to any water incident. They can also act as a BA command and entry point for larger incidents.Welfare unit
The welfare unit is based on a specially modified Mitsubishi Fuso chassis. The unit comprises a small kitchen area in one locker with a fridge and hot water urn. Hand washing facilities in another locker and ample cupboard space in another's. At the rear there is also 2 unisex toilets. This unit generally goes to large fires where crews are going to be in attendance for a long period of time as it allows the firefighters and officers to have a short brake, and serves hot and cold refreshments and provides sanitary needs for the crews. This unit is based at St.Dennis fire stationEnvironmental support unit (ESU)
The 2 environmental support units are based on a Vauxhall Movarno chassis and are based at Bodmin and Penzance fire stations. These units carry specialist equipment to deal with chemical incidents such as spillages. They carry extra gas tight suits (GTS), oil absorbent granules, dammit mats and paste and over-drums for sealing leaking chemical drums. They are usually part of the predetermined attendance to all incidents involving chemical incidents.Limited access vehicle (LAV)
The Limited Access Vehicle or LAV is based on a Kawasaki Mule and is stationed at Looe fire station. Then vehicle was adapted by brigade workshops to carry a portable pump, ladder, hoses and branches and 2 sets of BA. The LAV is designed to navigate around the very small streets of Polperro and is towed to the incident by a Toyota Hilux L4P.Mutual assistance
The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.It came into effect on 1 October 2004. It only applies to Great Britain and most provisions apply only in England and Wales...
, gives fire services the power to assist other fire services or fire authorities in what is known as mutual assistance.
The fire services that adjoin Cornwall are as follows:
- Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue ServiceDevon and Somerset Fire and Rescue ServiceDevon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service covering the counties of Devon and Somerset, including the unitary authorities of Plymouth and Torbay, in South West England...
- Newquay Cornwall Airport Fire and Rescue ServiceNewquay Cornwall Airport Fire and Rescue ServiceNewquay Cornwall Airport Fire and Rescue Service is the fire service for Newquay Airport, it has three fire engines and a 4x4. It is backed up by Cornwall County Fire Brigade.-Mutual assistance:...
Notable incidents
- Torrey Canyon disasterTorrey CanyonThe Torrey Canyon was a supertanker capable of carrying a cargo of 120,000 tons of crude oil, which was shipwrecked off the western coast of Cornwall, England in March 1967 causing an environmental disaster...
, 18 March 1967:
This incident saw possibly the largest fire brigade attendance in UK history: 78 different brigades (with over 200 appliances, 147 of which responded from London Fire Brigade
London Fire Brigade
The London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for London.Founded in 1865, it is the largest of the fire services in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest in the world with nearly 7,000 staff, including 5,800 operational firefighters based in 112 fire...
) and 38 different military units spread detergent and pumped out contaminated water. The cleanup lasted months and the brigades stayed on-site throughout working 24/7. Cornwall Fire Brigade set up a workshop near the Lizard to maintain the appliances on-site whilst refilling them and portable pumps with petrol. In the height of the operation over 1,600 personnel were on scene.
- Falmouth dock fire, 18 January 2003:
A fire broke out at the Queens Wharf dock and spanned 360 ft; the dock was well alight. 11 appliances attended as well as a fireboat, which surveyed the situation from the bay.
- Boscastle floodingBoscastle flood of 2004The Boscastle flood of 2004 occurred on Monday, 16 August 2004 in the two villages of Boscastle and Crackington Haven in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The villages suffered extensive damage after flash floods caused by an exceptional amount of rain that fell over eight hours that afternoon...
, 16 August 2004:
The first call came into Fire Control in Truro at 16:00 to report a person trapped in a car with the water rising. At 17:30 a major incident was declared and search and rescue helicopters from RNAS Culdrose
RNAS Culdrose
Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose , based in Cornwall, near Helston, on the Lizard Peninsula, has three major roles: serving the Fleet Air Arm's front line Sea King and Merlin helicopter squadrons; providing search and rescue for the South West region; and training specialists for the Royal Navy...
along with other helicopters throughout the Southwest assisted the fire brigade and Coastguard in evacuating people. 25 appliances attended the scene along with a further 22 for relief purposes. Although the brigade could not do anything with regards to the pumping out of water they assisted searching for persons trapped in their cars and homes and helped bring them to safety via the RNAS search and rescue helicopter. The brigade also carried out salvage work once the water had receded. The brigade were in attendance for a number of days with nearly the whole of the brigades pumping resources in attendance as either first response or as a relief crew.
- Penhallow Hotel DisasterPenhallow Hotel DisasterThe Penhallow Hotel was situated on Island Crescent in the surfing town of Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It was a well-known hotel for holiday makers ranging from families to older residents. The hotel was a typical 1960s building with a wooden fire escape at the rear, and a central light...
, 18 August 2007:
The first 999 call was received at 00:17; crews from Newquay were first on scene and requested further appliances to attend. The fire consumed all three floors of the hotel and three people died at the scene. 25 appliances attended with support appliances; Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service covering the counties of Devon and Somerset, including the unitary authorities of Plymouth and Torbay, in South West England...
also provided a turntable ladder, officers and USAR assistance. The cause of the fire is believed to be arson, but no one has been charged. As of the outcome to the incident questions were raised over the retained staffing levels at Newquay fire station and the brigades lack of operational aerial ladder platforms.
- Athena Ship Fire, 27 October 2010:
The Fish Factory ship the Athena caught fire 230 miles of the southwest coast of the isles of Scilly. 98 of the 111 crew were forced to abandon ship into the life rafts, these were picked up by the container ship the Vega. The Athena was then taken under tow to Falmouth bay where Cornwall Fire and Rescue's MIRG (Marine Incident Response Group) was then flow out by helicopter to the ship.Once on board the started to fight the fire in the hold of the ship which contained around 600,000 cardboard boxes. However in the early hours of the morning they were forced to evacuate after carbon monoxide levels reached a dangerous level, a couple of firefighters were taken to hospital. The ship is now in control of a salvage team who are finding the best outcome for the ship.
- South Coast Flooding, 17 November 2010:
During the night and the early hours of the 16/17 November torrential rain hit the south coast of Cornwall, the ground became saturated and water began to run off of the surrounding fields into the already overflowing rivers causing many to burst their banks. The worst places hit by the storm were Mevagissey, Lostwithiel, The Glynn Valley, St.Blazey, Portloe, St.Austell and Pentewan. Many places saw 3 to 4 foot of water flooding hundreds of home and shops and causing landslides. Cornwall FRS deployed appliances to the worst hit areas to pump out shops, roads and homes and to assist with salvage work. Around midday Devon and Cornwall police declared the scenes and a Major Incident. Fortunately there were no casualties.
- A+P Falmouth Docks Fire, 17 June 2011:
At around 8:00am a worker was changing over an acetylene cylinder when the tank began to vent and ignited, this in turn ignited other venting tanks. On arrival of the brigade a 300M . cordon was put in place which required surrounding houses and the docks to be evacuated. The brigade extinguished the initial fire but then had to cool the cylinders constantly for 24hrs to prevent the cylinders for exploding due to the heat and pressure build up. In total Cornwall FRS sent 6 pumping appliances, 1 command support unit, 1 operational support unit, 1 welfare vehicle. The incident lasted for 24hrs and required numerous relief crews to attend over night.
Other emergency services
- Cornwall Air AmbulanceCornwall Air AmbulanceThe Cornwall Air Ambulance is a dedicated helicopter emergency service for the English county of Cornwall. The helicopter flies approximately 1000 missions per annum, having flown over 20,000 missions. When introduced on 1 April 1987, Cornwall's Air ambulance became the first dedicated Helicopter...
- South Western Ambulance ServiceSouth Western Ambulance ServiceThe South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is the authority responsible for providing ambulance services for the National Health Service in the English counties of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset...
- Devon and Cornwall ConstabularyDevon and Cornwall ConstabularyDevon and Cornwall Police, formerly Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the counties of Devon and Cornwall in England and the unitary authorities of Plymouth, Torbay and the Isles of Scilly....
- HM Coastguard
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Further reading
- Books by Arthur Ivan RabeyIvan RabeyArthur Ivan Rabey was best known as a Cornish historian and author from St Columb Major in Cornwall. He was also a journalist, broadcaster and local politician. In 1974 he was created a bard of The Cornish Gorseth and took the bardic name "Gwas Colum" meaning servant of St Columb...
:- 1981: Cornwall's Fire Brigades. St. Columb: I. Rabey
- 1998: Cornwall County Fire Brigade 1948 - 1998: the first 50 years. St. Columb: I. Rabey
- 2003: The Centenary of St. Columb Fire Brigade, 1903-2003. St Columb: [the Author]
External links
- Cornwall RFU (Retained Firefighters Union for Cornwall)