Emergency Services & Partners - Fire and Rescue Service

The primary objectives of the Fire and Rescue Service are to save life, protect property, render humanitarian aid and protect the environment. Where appropriate they will assist the Ambulance Service with casualty handling and the police, on request, with the recovery of bodies.

Where it is deemed necessary to establish an inner cordon the Fire and Rescue Service, in consultation with the police, will control access to the inner cordon area until the hazard area is deemed safe.

The Fire and Rescue Service is responsible for the health and safety of all personnel, including those from other agencies, working within the inner cordon. They will liaise with the police about who should be allowed access to the inner cordon and ensure that they are properly equipped and fully briefed. However, it should be noted that the responsibility for providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and training lies with the parent organisations.

At any incident where the Fire and Rescue Service is not initially involved, the Police will alert Fire and Rescue Service Control, who will then respond in accordance with its own procedures.
The Senior Fire and Rescue Service Officer present shall have sole charge and control of operations on the fireground.

It is recognised that through training and experience, the Fire and Rescue Service have the necessary capability, expertise and resources to undertake all forms of rescue operation.

Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, an assessment will be made of the situation and any additional reinforcements or special services required will be called for and deployed to best advantage. Computer terminals carried in some Fire Appliances will give advice as to the best method of combating the hazard if chemicals are involved.

A Fire and Rescue Service Incident Control Point will be established adjacent to the Police Control and may be exercised initially from an Appliance or Emergency Tender, until deployment of the mobile Incident Command Unit.

The Tyne and Wear Emergency Planning Unit maintain close links with Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service as one of the key Blue Light Agencies who will come together during an incident, and work with them in developing training and exercises,

including the Norland Series.

For more information please go to the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service website at www.twfire.gov.uk