Posts tagged: Tyne and Wear

Celebrating 50 years of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) is commemorating its 50th anniversary, marking half a century of dedicated service to the Tyne and Wear community.

The year-long celebration aims to reflect on the past achievements and honour the continuous efforts and contributions made by its personnel over the decades.

As part of the festivities, TWFRS is initiating various projects, including a special anniversary video, a commemorative brochure, and a time capsule, inviting public participation to enrich these events.

The time capsule, set to be opened in another 50 years, will house photographs, memorabilia, and messages from the community, stakeholders, current employees, and retired firefighters.

It will be placed at Hebburn Tri Station, the pioneering carbon-neutral emergency services facility in the country that will open in April, marking the start of the 50th year.

History and evolution of TWFRS

The formation of TWFRS in 1974 brought together several regional fire brigades, creating a robust entity that has since become a pillar of safety in the North East.

From its inaugural major incident in 1975 at Brandon House in Benwell to modern-day challenges, the service has been a cornerstone in fire prevention and response.

Chief Fire Officer, Peter Heath, shared his thoughts: “On behalf of all staff and our Fire Authority I am very privileged to be leading the Service during our 50th year and to be celebrating this significant milestone with staff and the communities we serve.”

From its humble beginnings to now covering 1.1 million residents with 17 stations, the growth of TWFRS has been notable.

“The evolution of the service could not have been possible without the hard work and commitment demonstrated by every team member past and present,” Heath added.

Community and future outlook

Councillor Phil Tye, Chairperson of the Tyne and Wear Fire Authority, also commented on the service’s integral role within the community: “Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service is an integral part of local communities.

“In spite of some very challenging financial settlements from Government over the last ten years the Service has and continues to perform exceptionally well.”

The anniversary also includes a call to the public to share their old videos, photographs, and memories to aid in the creation of the anniversary video, time capsule, and brochure.

These contributions can be sent to celebrating50years@twfire.gov.uk, as the service looks forward to another year of celebration and commitment.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service introduces innovative, sustainable emergency service hub

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) is set to welcome Northumbria Police and North East Ambulance Service to their newly operational carbon-neutral community Tri-Station on Campbell Park Road, Hebburn.

This state-of-the-art combined emergency service centre is the first of its kind in the UK to be completely carbon-neutral, as reported by TWFRS.

The Hebburn Community Tri-Station, a flagship project for the region, is being developed by Esh Construction.

The North East Contractor locally sourced materials and employees to create the landmark building, with 86% of employees working on the scheme residents from the North East.

The site includes ground source heat pumps, electric vehicle charging points, a wildflower meadow to support local biodiversity, and ‘E’ cycle storage and charging facilities.

Over 340 photovoltaic panels are installed and spread across the tri-station’s flat roof, helping to generate up to 100% of the clean renewable electricity required to run the tri-station.

Leaders express enthusiasm for the collaborative facility

Peter Heath, Chief Fire Officer at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are looking forward to opening the doors to our brand-new fire station to our blue light colleagues late this month.

“All three organisations operating under one roof represent our vision to not only work alongside our blue light colleagues in the heart of the community but do so in a collaborative way that adds value to our communities.

“The project symbolises Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service’s vision to reduce our carbon footprint and support our local communities.”

Chief Superintendent Aelfwynn Sampson, Area Commander for South Tyneside at Northumbria Police, said: “We are really looking forward to joining our blue light colleagues in the new Hebburn Tri-Station.

“This exciting initiative is another great example of collaboration with emergency service partners in the area – and will allow us to strengthen our working relationships under one roof.

“The purpose-built facility will help ensure we can continue to provide the very best service possible to our surrounding communities, and ultimately be there when the public need us most.”

Stuart Holliday, Strategic Head of Emergency Preparedness Resilience and Response at North East Ambulance Service, said: “The new Hebburn Tri-Station exemplifies the close working relationships we have in the region with our Fire and Police colleagues.

“Co-location enables us to learn from each other and form strong individual relationships, so that if we are asked to respond together to incidents, we can work with a better understanding of each other’s capabilities and provide safe and responsive care to all.”

The Hebburn Community Tri-Station is located between Marine Drive and Campbell Park Road in Hebburn, South Tyneside, replacing the existing fire station on Victoria Road West.

The station on Victoria Road West, formerly known as Hebburn Community Fire Station, came to its natural close earlier this week after serving the public and keeping them safe from harm for nearly sixty years.

IFSJ Comment

The introduction of the Hebburn Community Tri-Station marks a significant step forward in emergency services’ operational sustainability and collaborative efforts.

By housing fire, police, and ambulance services in a single, carbon-neutral facility, TWFRS demonstrates leadership in environmental stewardship and enhances the effectiveness of emergency response within the community.

This pioneering project sets a precedent for future developments within the emergency services sector across the UK and possibly internationally.