New approach to rural safety

Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service is investing in specialist animal rescue equipment to improve how it works with the rural community.

The Service is also training over 60 firefighters, based at fire stations in Stratton and Amesbury, as animal rescue specialists. They will support their colleagues across Wiltshire and Swindon when an animal rescue is needed.

A review of animal rescues across the Wiltshire FRS area was started earlier this year. Watch Manager Tom Brolan, who has led the study, said: “How we currently respond to and attend animal rescue incidents is below the standard we want to achieve. In such a rural area, we need to have much better procedures in place and greater specialist knowledge within the Service.”

“The new specialists will be trained in all aspects of animal rescue and will be equipped to deal with these incidents in a professional and safe manner. We know from our research that the correct training and equipment has more than proved its worth in other fire and rescue services.”

Supporting the specialist crews will be two individual posts, based at Service headquarters, who will visit farms, hold talks in the rural community, and map and identify water sources. They will also work directly with firefighters to increase their knowledge and understanding of animal rescue issues.

WM Brolan said: “We are investing many thousands of pounds into improving the service we give to our rural communities, while also ensuring the safest possible working conditions for our firefighters.”

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