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Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service area
Coverage
Area	Devon and Somerset, excluding Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset
Size	10,000 km². 700,000 households.
Population	1,600,000
Operations
Formed	2007 (Combined) 1948 (Somerset) 1973 (Devon)
HQ	Clyst St George
Staff	2255
Stations	82
Brigade Manager	Paul Young
Website	Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
Fire Authority	Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service or FRS covering the counties of Somerset and Devon, including the unitary authorities of Plymouth and Torbay, in the south west of England.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service was founded on 1 April 2007 following the merger of Devon Fire and Rescue Service with Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. The Somerset service, previously known as Somerset Fire Brigade, was formed on 1 April 1948. Somerset is organised operationally into three areas: North, South and West. Devon Fire Brigade was formed in 1973 by the amalgamation of Exeter City Brigade, Plymouth City Brigade and Devon County Brigade, and became Devon Fire and Rescue Service in 1987. Devon is organised operationally into four divisions: North, South, East and West. The service's headquarters is located at Clyst St George near Exeter.

The service employs 2255 staff including 798 whole time firefighters and control room staff, 1208 retained firefighters and 249 non-uniformed staff.

Each county still operates its own control room, in Exeter and Hestercombe, Taunton. The control rooms will merge when they move into the regional control centre in Taunton, as part of the FiReControl project.

Contents 1 Fire Stations 1.1 Devon Wholetime 1.2 Devon Wholetime / Retained 1.3 Devon Retained 1.4 Devon Volunteer 1.5 Co-responder Stations 1.6 Somerset Wholetime / Retained 1.7 Somerset Retained 2 Fire Appliances 2.1 Water Tender Ladder 2.2 Water Tender 2.3 Incident Command Vehicle 2.4 Environmental and Incident Support Units 2.5 Water Foam Carrier 2.6 Hose Layer 2.7 Multi Role Vehicle 2.8 Rescue Vehicle 2.9 Aerial Ladder Platform 2.10 Fireboat 2.11 Off Road Appliances 2.12 Lines Rescue Unit 2.13 Support Vehicles 2.14 Incident Response Unit (IRU) 2.15 Urban Search and Rescue 3 See also 4 External links 5 News Links

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service operates 82 fire stations, of which 13 are crewed day and night (whole time), day crewed (Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00) 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:

• 5 whole time stations (all in Plymouth)
• 8 whole time/retained stations
• 1 day crewed (Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00)
• 67 Retained stations (the largest number in England)^{[citation needed]}
• 1 volunteer station (Kingston)

Breakdown of the different areas and locations of each fire station (station number): here

• (48) Camels Head (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Aerial Ladder Platform, Specialist Rescue Team)
• (49) Crownhill (Water Tender Ladder, Turntable Ladder)
• (47) Plympton (Water Tender Ladder, Water Foam Carrier, Multi Role Vehicle, Handyman Vehicle)
• (51) Plymstock (Water Tender Ladder, Fireboat)
• (50) Greenbank (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Incident Command Vehicle)

All of the above are in the Plymouth area.

• South division: (18) Paignton (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Prime Mover, Environmental Pod, Incident Support Unit), (17) Torquay (Two Water Tender Ladders, Water Tender, Aerial Ladder Platform, Water Foam Carrier, Handyman Vehicle)
• East division: (32) Exeter (Two Water Tender Ladders, Water Tender, Aerial Ladder Platform, Water Foam Carrier, Handyman Vehicle, Prime Mover, Environmental Pod, Incident Support Unit), (33) Exmouth (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender 4x4, Incident Command Vehicle, Rescue Vehicle)
• North division: (01) Barnstaple (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Aerial Ladder Platform, Water Foam Carrier, Handyman Vehicle, Prime Mover, Environmental Pod, Incident Support Unit), (02) Ilfracombe (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Incident Command Vehicle, Specialist Rescue Team)

• West division: (53) Ivybridge (Water Tender Ladder, Prime Mover, Environmental Pod, Incident Support Unit), (52) Bere Alston (Water Tender Ladder), (26) Kingsbridge (Water Tender Ladder), (55) Modbury (Water Tender Ladder), (56) Princetown (Water Tender 4x4), (29) Salcombe (Water Tender Ladder), (58) Yelverton (Water Tender Ladder), (57) Tavistock (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Hoselayer)
• South division: (19) Ashburton (Water Tender Ladder), (20) Bovey Tracey (Water Tender Ladder, Ranger 4x4, Incident Response Unit), (22) Brixham (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), (22) Buckfastleigh (Water Tender Ladder), (23) Chagford (Water Tender Ladder), (24) Dartmouth (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), (25) Dawlish (Water Tender Ladder, Ranger 4x4), (27) Moretonhampstead (Water Tender Ladder), (28) Newton Abbot (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), (30) Teignmouth (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), (31) Totnes (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Incident Command Vehicle)
• North division: (03) Appledore (Water Tender Ladder), (04) Bideford (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), (05) Braunton (Water Tender Ladder), (06) Chulmleigh (Water Tender Ladder), (07) Combe Martin (Water Tender Ladder), (08) Hartland (Water Tender Ladder), (09) Hatherleigh (Water Tender Ladder), (10) Holsworthy (Water Tender Ladder), (11) Lynton (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender 4x4), (14) South Molton (Water Tender Ladder), (15) Torrington (Water Tender Ladder), (46) Witheridge (Water Tender Ladder), (16) Woolacombe (Water Tender Ladder)
• East division: (34) Axminster (Water Tender Ladder), (35) Bampton (Water Tender Ladder), (36) Budleigh Salterton (Water Tender Ladder), (37) Colyton (Water Tender Ladder), (38) Crediton (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), (39) Cullompton (Water Tender Ladder), (40) Honiton (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Hoselayer), (12) North Tawton (Water Tender Ladder), (13) Okehampton (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Incident Response Unit), (41) Ottery St Mary (Water Tender Ladder), (42) Seaton (Water Tender Ladder), (43) Sidmouth (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), (44) Tiverton (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), (45) Topsham (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender)

(54) Kingston (Water Tender 4x4), in the west division, is the service's only volunteer fire station.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service works in partnership with the South West Ambulance Trust to provide emergency medical cover to areas of Devon and Somerset. 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 automatic external defibrillation (AED) equipment.

Devon fire stations operating as co-responders:

• Combe Martin
• Hartland
• Hatherleigh
• Holsworthy
• Lynton
• Woolacombe
• Chagford
• Dawlish
• Moretonhampstead
• Axminster
• Crediton (two appliances)
• Seaton
• Plymstock (white watch)
• Ivybridge
• Princetown

In addition the following Somerset fire stations have been set up as co-responders:

• Porlock
• Dulverton
• Cheddar
• Nether Stowey
• Williton
• Crewkerne

• Bridgwater (Two Water Tender Ladders, Water Tender, Aerial Ladder Platform, Water Foam Carrier, Incident Command Vehicle, Hoselayer)
• Taunton (Two Water Tender Ladders, Water Tender, Aerial Ladder Platform, Incident Support Unit, Rescue Tender)
• Yeovil (Water Tender Ladder, Two Water Tenders, Aerial Ladder Platform, Water Foam Carrier, Incident Support Unit, Rescue Tender)

• North area:Burnham-on-Sea (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Bulk Foam Tender), Cheddar (Water Tender Ladder, Pinzgauer), Frome (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), Glastonbury (Water Tender 4x4, Rescue Tender), Nether Stowey (Water Tender 4x4, Brendon Pump Unit), Shepton Mallet (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender, Brendon Pump Unit), Wells (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender)
• West area: Dulverton (Water Tender Ladder, Pinzgauer), Minehead (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), Porlock (Water Tender 4x4, Supacat), Wellington (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), Williton (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), Wiveliscombe (Water Tender Ladder, Incident Command Vehicle)
• South area: Castle Cary (Water Tender Ladder), Chard (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), Crewkerne (Water Tender Ladder), Ilminster (Water Tender Ladder, Incident Command Vehicle), Martock (Water Tender Ladder, Water Tender), Somerton (Water Tender Ladder), Street (Water Tender Ladder, Incident Command Vehicle), Wincanton (Water Tender Ladder)

A full list of Devon and Somerset's front-line and special appliances can be found here

Cheddar and Dulverton each operate a Pinzgauer which is a specially built 6x6 vehicle. They are located to tackle tough terrains in their respective locations. The Supacat at Porlock is a high mobility fire fighting appliance. It is transported on a trailer to incidents that are difficult to access.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service>

Major equipment includes:-

• Pump up to 3000 litres (660 gallons) per minute • 1800 litres (396 gallons) water • Range of ladders up to 13.5 metres (44 ft) • 4 x Compressed air breathing apparatus • Set of powered hydraulic rescue equipment • Thermal imaging camera • Water rescue equipment • Positive pressure fans • Safety at height equipment

These appliances are broadly similar to the water tender ladders, but carry a different range of equipment, with ladders up to 10.5 metres. They are used to support water tender ladders at property fires and to attend miscellaneous calls.

These vehicles, also known as ICVs, perform the role of an on site control point, providing a single point of contact with the control rooms. The control units, based at Ilfracombe, Totnes, Exmouth and Greenbank, are mobilised to large or protracted incidents. They control all communications on the incident ground and provide a single point of contact for control rooms. There is an area within the unit for the incident commander to brief officers and also to liaise with officers from other services.

These vehicles are used to provide logistical support to large incidents and carry additional equipment that compliments what is carried on front line appliances. They carry a large range of special equipment for controlling chemical spills and protecting the environment.

The FRS use a number of water carriers, which enable large quantities of water to be transported to support fires in rural areas or where additional water is required. Each carrier holds 9000 litres of water. A number of them also carry 1000 litres (220 gallons) of firefighting foam.

The FRS has a number of Hose Laying Vehicles which are used to enable the pumping of water from a water source to support a large incident. Each hose layer carries almost 1.5 kilometres (0.9 mi) of hose.

The Multi Role Vehicle (MRV) is primarily used as a foam unit that is used to support firefighting operations involving petrol, fuels and other hydrocarbons. There are a number of hydrocarbon installations in the region and considerable amounts are transported through the region by road and rail. These units also support aircraft incidents both on airfield sites and in remote locations.

These vehicles carry a wide range of special equipment that is used to support operations at road traffic collisions and other rescue situations. They carry boats to provide water borne rescue capabilities, along with other equipment to assist at different rescue situations.

Aerial Ladder Platforms, also known as Brontos, are located at strategic locations across the FRS. They all have a working height of of 30 metres (98 ft) and are used both to carry out rescues from height, and also as firefighting platforms. They are also used to give firefighters safe access into fires.

The Fireboat "Vigiles" is located in Plymouth and is used to protect the Royal Naval Dockyard, the oil storage facilities and the commercial shipping that uses the port. Its high speed enables it to carry out a rescue role.

Due to the rural nature of Devon and Somerset, a number of vehicles are used that are capable of reaching fires that occur on the commons, moors and heathlands of the region. These all carry specialised firefighting equipment designed for the purpose.

Specially trained crews use these vehicles to carry out rescues on the cliffs and quarry faces across the region.

These vehicles, commonly known as Rangers, are used to support operations by providing logistics and access in difficult terrain. In some cases they may be fitted with special firefighting units to support heath and moorland fires.

The fire and rescue service operates three Incident Response Units (IRUs). They are stationed at Chelston Business Park, near Wellington in Somerset and Okehampton and Bovey Tracey Fire Stations in Devon.

They are supplied by the Department for Communities and Local Government, to respond to an incident involving mass decontamination - defined as incidents where more than one person can be decontaminated simultaneously using the same equipment.

Each IRU is maintained by a host station with assistance from support stations which all receive training on the equipment at regular periods throughout the year.

See External links for more information on the IRU.

The FRS has an Urban Search and Rescue team (USAR), one of 21 teams strategically located around England and Wales. They are equipped with five modules carrying varying equipment to deal with a large range of incidents including structural collapse, large transport incidents, open area searches, heavy lifting operations, shoring and many more.

See External links for more information on USAR.

• Fire service in the United Kingdom

• Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
• Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service Newsdesk
• Somerset Fire and Rescue Service
• Devon Fire and Rescue Service
• Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue corporate plan
• Urban Search and Rescue
• Pinzgauer
• Supacat

• 27th November 2007 One dead in 17-vehicle accident
• 27th November 2007 Motorway reopens after fatal crash

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