Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service

HMNB Devonport Dockyard, in Plymouth, is home to twenty one of the Royal Navy's fleet of ships and submarines.

The dockyard falls into the station ground of 48 Camels Head, and is backed up by 49 Crownhill. Each part of the dockyard is divided into risk areas; this then reflects in the level of attendance by the Fire Service.

Some parts of the dockyard are considered a very high risk and therefore attract a high attendance, sometimes as many as four pumping appliances and the aerial ladder platform are mobilised to a fire alarm actuating, in contrast to one pumping appliance to a town dwelling.

Hinkley Point is a headland on the coast of Somerset. It is the location of two nuclear power stations (Hinkley Point A, which closed in 2000, and Hinkley Point B). Hinkley Point B is the only active site. Hinkley Point has its own fire station, backed up by 67 Nether Stowey and would then be backed up by 62 Bridgwater. There is a planned new nuclear power station that will be Hinkley Point C.

A water tender ladder's (WrL) major capabilities include pumping up to 3,000 litres (660 imp gal) per minute between two locations. It has a storage capacity of 1,800 litres (400 imp gal). The appliance carries a range of ladders up to 13.5 metres (44 ft). Inside the cab are four sets of compressed air breathing apparatus. Each WrL has six external lockers on the sides. Equipment stowed inside these lockers includes a set of powered hydraulic rescue equipment, a thermal imaging camera, water rescue equipment, a positive pressure ventilation fan and safety at height equipment. There are occasions when a water tender, and not the water tender ladder, would be mobilised first to keep the Water Tender Ladder (the primary fire engine) 'on-the-run' and available.

Water tender

Water tenders (WrT) 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 hydraulic cutting equipment, the equipment is not as robust or effective as that carried on a water tender ladder. Water tenders are used to attend miscellaneous incidents such as small fires in bins, vegetation, chimneys or cars; or to minor rescues such as a lift entrapment or someone locked out of their home. Often they support water tender ladders at larger incidents such as property fires and at road traffic collisions. A water tender, like its counterpart the water tender ladder, is capable of carrying up to six firefighters, although often they carry only four. The county operates a number of specialist water tenders located in particularly harsh rural areas or at stations with a considerable area of muddy estuary or perilous beach. The vehicles are full-sized water tenders but have the added benefit of four-wheeled drive, higher, more robust suspension and knobbly all-terrain tyres. Exmouth is one such station that operates one of these vehicles.

Incident command vehicle

Incident command unit (ICU) vehicles perform the role of an on-site control point, providing a single point of contact with the control rooms. The ICUs are mobilised to large or protracted incidents. Often, they are mobilised when four or more appliances are mobilised; or when the Incident Commander requests the attendance of additional appliances, taking the total to four or more. They control all communications on the incident ground and provide a single point of contact for the control room and Incident Commanders.

The Environmental Units (EU) and Incident Support Units (ISU) (Prime Mover) are used to provide logistical support to large incidents and carry additional equipment that complements what is carried on front-line appliances. They carry a large range of special equipment for controlling chemical spills and protecting the environment.

Water foam carrier

The Service uses a number of water carriers (WrC), which enable large quantities of water to be transported to support appliance in rural areas or where additional water is required such as at a fire on the motorway where water supplies could be sparse. Each vehicle holds 9,000 litres (2,000 imp gal) of water. A number of them also carry 1,000 litres (220 imp gal) of firefighting foam (water foam carrier; WFC).

The FRS has three 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.

These vehicles carry a wide range of specialist equipment that is used to support operations at road traffic collisions and other rescue situations. They also carry boats which provide waterborne rescue capabilities.

Aerial ladder platform at work

Aerial ladder platforms (ALP) are located at strategic locations across the service area. They have a working height 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. Occasionally they are also used to monitor a fire from above, or provide lighting. The ingenious three-section hydraulic boom design of these vehicles means that the rescue cage can be positioned below ground level, and can therefore be utilised in water rescues, or rescues off a bridge parapet or into a shallow ravine.

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 also enables it to carry out a rescue role if required.

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

Cheddar and Dulverton each operate a Pinzgauer, a specially-built 6x6 vehicle. They are strategically located to tackle tough terrains in their respective locations.

The JCB Groundhogs at Porlock and Nether Stowey are high-mobility firefighting appliances. They are transported on trailers to incidents that are difficult to access and operate usually in conjunction with the Pinzgauers and other off-road vehicles.

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

L4P and L4V support vehicles are used to support operations by providing logistics and access in difficult terrain. In some cases they may be fitted with special firefighting units called Brendon pumps to support heath and moorland fires. At some rural stations they double up as emergency response units for co-responder roles.

Co-responder stations have a dedicated vehicle for 'co-responder' medical calls so the fire appliance remains available. The vehicles are equipped with oxygen and automated external defibrillator (AED) equipment.

Incident response unit

The Service operates three incident response units (IRUs). They are positioned at Wellington, Okehampton fire station and Bovey Tracey fire station. Note, the IRU based at Wellington is not housed at the fire station, but at Chelston Business Park near Wellington.

They are supplied by the Department for Communities and Local Government, to respond to incidents 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.

The high volume pump (HVP) has the capability of delivering large volumes of water over great distances utilising additional pumps. They can pump 7,000 litres/min, and hose can be deployed utilising the 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) hose boxes at a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour (40 km/h). It also carries a variety of ancillary equipment including, hose adaptors, 5-way manifolds, Y-pieces, gate valves, non-return valves, water safety equipment, harnesses & lanyards, hose ramps, change of direction equipment, edge protection, sack trolley and lighting, cones and tape. A HVP has the pumping capacity of eight standard fire engines.

The Service has an urban search and rescue team (USAR), one of 21 teams strategically located across England and Wales. They are equipped with five modules carrying various equipment to deal with a large range of incidents including structural collapse, large transport incidents, open area searches, heavy lifting operations and shoring.

The Urban Search and Rescue is station 60 and based at the Service's main headquarters in Exeter.

The British Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Service (FESS) helps to meet the needs of individuals who have suffered damage to their homes following a domestic property fire, flood or similar emergency. Two units operating in Devon and Somerset based at the based Plymouth Red Cross Centre and Bridgwater Fire Station[5] are dedicated volunteers. Their role includes providing refreshments, clothing, toiletries, use of an onboard telephone, first aid, sign-posting to other organisations, support with the care of children and pets, assistance in securing temporary accommodation, transport to friends/family, and use of shower/washing and toilet facilities.

• Devon Air Ambulance Trust
• Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
• Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
• South Western Ambulance Service
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)