Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service News

As Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service celebrates turning 50 in April 2024, it is calling on all budding young artists and creators to design what a fire engine may look like in another 50 years’ time. There are prizes up for grabs in different age categories, including a giant replica fire engine, kindly donated by Scania UK, for the best design by someone aged 7 or under, a fire station Lego set for the winner in the age 8-11 category, and a shopping voucher for the winner in the age...

Celebrations are underway as Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service turns 50 years old. The Service will be marking the anniversary with a range of events and activities throughout the year, with crews hosting events at stations and staff celebrating the milestone across the county. Residents are also encouraged to get involved by leaving their comments and memories of the Service in an online book available on the Service’s website, as well as sharing any photos of interactions with...

A man has sadly died following a fire in Wisbech. Crews from Wisbech were called to a fire in a flat off Churchill Road at around 2.30 pm on Thursday. Fire under control Firefighters arrived within minutes of being alerted and found a fire on the ground floor of a three-story building. They quickly found the casualty, a man in his 60s, and got him to safety. They got the fire under control and prevented it from spreading further.  Cause of the fire Despite administering first aid, the...

Cambridgeshire’s chief fire officer has announced his intention to retire. Chris Strickland, who has held the position for the past eight years, will step down from the role in September. Having joined Cambridgeshire in 2007, after serving 24 years with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Chris arrived as assistant chief fire officer. He was promoted to deputy chief before becoming chief fire officer in 2016 and will retire having served over 40 years in the fire service. Fire an...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service plans to increase its share of council tax by 2.99% from April 2024. For a Band D property, this is an annual increase of £2.34, totaling £82.26 per year or £1.58 a week. fire and rescue service Chair of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority Chair Councilor Edna Murphy continued: “We know the cost of living crisis is still impacting many local families and we don’t make decisions lightly to increase our proporti...

Cambridge firefighters had a busy Christmas Day as they were called to several house fires. While many people were enjoying the festivities and tucking into a Christmas dinner, firefighters from Cambridge Fire Station’s Red Watch responded to several emergencies. Christmas morning fires At 9 am on Christmas morning the crews, along with the south roaming fire engine and an on-call crew from Linton, were called to a house fire involving a roof at Egerton Close. The fire spread quickly f...

A group of Fenland youngsters have been benefitting from fire service training to help develop teamwork skills, increase self-esteem and confidence, and understand the consequences of risk-taking decision-making. Learnings Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has been hosting students from Thomas Clarkson Academy at Wisbech Fire Station. Led by the Service’s Community Development Instructors, the groups have been learning how to use hose reels, ladders, and breathing apparatus, and le...

As the festive season approaches, residents are urged to Take Care and Be Safe, while looking for electrical items as presents this Electrical Safety Week. Electrical Safety Week Following an increase in incidents over the past year involving electrical items, particularly chargers for electric bikes and scooters, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people to make sure they are buying the correct chargers from reputable retailers. As part of Electrical Safety Week, the Service...

Over 100 colleagues, contractors and local civic dignitaries warmly welcomed Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal to the new Huntingdon Fire Station and Service training center for a tour and to officially open the building with the unveiling of a plaque. The Princess Royal was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire, Mrs. Julie Spence OBE QPM, and introduced to Fire Authority Chair - Edna Murphy, Deputy Chief Executive for Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue Service (CFRS) - Matthew W...

Heavy downpours on Friday (20) caused by Storm Babet saw Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service’s (CFRS) Combined Fire Control to see their busiest 24 hours on record. The Service’s Combined Fire Control Room is a joint control room with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service–responding to 999 calls from both counties. Over 1500 calls were received in a 24-hour period-exceeding that of the summer heatwave fires of July 2022. Flood alerts issued While Cambridgeshire saw flood alerts...

As Bonfire Night approaches, residents are reminded to stay safe while enjoying the festivities. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service wants everyone to enjoy Bonfire Night safely. However, fire crews are often called to incidents involving out-of-control bonfires and fireworks that can be easily avoided by taking a few simple precautions. bonfire safety tips Station Commander Gareth Boyd, community risk manager, said: “Bonfire Night can be plenty of fun for all of the family to enjoy,...

This month sees new fire safety legislation that gives new additional duties for responsible persons in businesses and building owners. From October 1, amendments to the Fire Safety Order, the primary fire safety legislation in England and Wales, take effect. These amendments are set out in section 156 of the Building Safety Act and include some key changes for those with a business and owners of buildings. Legislation responsibilities The main changes introduced by the legislation are: Wr...

Fire service leaders, medical experts, HR professionals and those affected by menopause gathered at The Rep (Birmingham Repertory Theatre), in central Birmingham last week for the NFCC’s first Menopause in Fire conference. The NFCC Menopause in Fire conference, which took place on Thursday, 21 September, 2023, offered a unique opportunity for colleagues within the fire and rescue sector to learn more about the menopause by hearing from medical experts, keynote speakers and those who share...

A new fire control center fitted with state-of-the-art communications for mobilizing and managing Suffolk’s firefighters would be in the best interests of the county, a report to councilors says. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) announced in June it would be withdrawing from the shared control room arrangement in place since 2011 with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire and Rescue Service, based in Huntingdon. replacing mobilizing technology The report recommending approval to Su...

Residents are being urged to keep their homes and families safe from fire by taking extra care with electrical appliances. Take Charge and Be Safe Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is urging residents to Take Charge and Be Safe by keeping in mind some simple steps when using electrical devices, especially those with Lithium-Ion batteries. By following a few simple safety measures, like adding fire safety to a bedtime routine and being awake when using and charging some devices or applian...

This September, fire service staff and volunteers will be hosing down cars at Cambridge, Burwell and Chatteris Fire Station to raise money for The Fire Fighters Charity. Vehicles of all shapes and sizes are welcome. Previously, cars, bikes, vans, trucks, and even tractors have been known to come along. Fire Fighters Charity The event will be raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity, which is currently celebrating 80 years of providing support and rehabilitation to both serving and retired...

Firefighters from both ends of the county had a busy morning on August 23, 2023, tackling fires caused by incorrect disposal of batteries. A crew from Cambridge was called just after 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning to a fire involving refuse from a lorry on Hauxton Road in Trumpington. Local recycling center Less than an hour later crews from Dogsthorpe and Stanground were called to a lorry fire in Bretton, Peterborough. Both fires were caused by batteries being discarded in household refuse. Ac...

As the warm weather looks set to continue for the coming days, leading up to the bank holiday weekend, residents are being urged to stay fire safe, while enjoying the sunshine. Many people may be looking to dust off the BBQ, as opportunities have been limited so far this summer, along with lighting bonfires or firepits. As much as these can be enjoyable, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service wants to ensure residents are aware of the risks and keep themselves and their families safe. Basic sa...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has been assessed as 'Outstanding' in one of eleven categories inspected earlier this year by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). They also received six Goods, three Adequates and one Requires Improvement. The inspection team, who visited the Service in April, gave the highest score possible for how CFRS manages its resources, highlighting innovative practices for its ‘comprehensive financial and r...

Just before schools broke up for the summer holidays, Safety Zone made its welcomed return after being put on hold following the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme first returned to St. Neots Fire Station, where more than 300 pupils from St Marys, Little Paxton, Middlefield, Buckden, Bushmead, Priory, Great Paxton, Eynesbury CoE, and Whinhills took part. road safety, CPR, fire safety Various partners attended the day, including, Cambridgeshire Constabulary, Cambridgeshire County Council, Woodgreen...

With around 300 road traffic collisions each year involving vehicles used for commercial purposes, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Vision Zero Partnership is looking to educate businesses during National Commercial Vehicle Month. Throughout July, the partnership will be running a local campaign to highlight the importance of commercial vehicle road safety. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Vision Zero Partnership The aim is to help educate local businesses on why road safety is important, b...

The investigation into the cause of Friday’s fatal flat fire in Kings Hedges, Cambridge, has now concluded. It is believed that the fire started accidentally and the most probable cause was an e-bike. Area Commander Stuart Smith, from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Fire service and specialist fire investigators, together with police forensic teams and a fire dog, have spent the weekend carrying out a thorough investigation of the maisonette. A fire investigation looks for...

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and its Fire Authority councilors have been left surprised and concerned after being given notice that Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is withdrawing from its highly successful Combined Control collaboration at the end of 2024. The Combined Control operates from Cambridgeshire’s headquarters in Huntingdon and was the first merger of fire control centers in the country. With 12 years of successful joint working, it has saved the public purse £ 1...

Residents and business owners are being encouraged to give their views to help shape Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service’s plan for the next five years. The Service is looking ahead and starting to draft its plan, known as the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), which covers its key focus areas until 2029. The plan will identify the fire and rescue related risks in the county and how the Service will mitigate them, as well as the opportunities that exist to continue improving its se...

A Cambridgeshire fire officer has celebrated four decades of dedicated service to the community. Station Commander Clive Allen, currently one of the Service’s officers working in the On-call Group, reached the milestone of 40 years as an operational firefighter and celebrated with officers and staff at Chatteris Fire Station, one of the stations he manages. He was presented with his long service certificate by Area Commander Stuart Smith. Firefighting career Clive began his firefighting...

Fire officers from Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service have been working with local property owners to help them understand new fire safety regulations. With the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 being introduced in January, those responsible for multi-occupied residential buildings are required to share more information about their premises in order to comply. Maintaining fire safety Fire officers have been working closely with those premises that are impacted by the law changes, to...

Residents across the county will soon be seeing brand new fire engines responding to emergencies as they are rolled out to stations. The first two fire engines, of the seven being introduced, have been rolled out to crews at St Neots and Dogsthorpe fire stations, where they are already in use. Over the coming weeks, the remaining five will be delivered to crews at Cambridge, Ely, Huntingdon, Stanground and Wisbech. Electrical operational equipment Each fire engine is a Scania 280 carrying an...

Excellence and exemplary service were celebrated at the annual Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) Long Service and Excellence Awards.   Taking place at the Huntingdon Marriott Hotel on Thursday (January 26), the event celebrated the achievements of staff from across different areas of the Service, highlighting outstanding accomplishments throughout the year. Providing service The commitment, dedication, and professionalism of staff regularly going above and beyond to prov...

Huntingdon firefighters are responding from their new station having completed moving on the morning of Wednesday 1 February 2023. Firefighters took the final drive from the station on their nightshift, before handing over to the day crew who started their first shift from the station, with the on-call crew following shortly after.   state-of-the-art station The new state-of-the-art station is located at 7 Percy Road in Huntingdon, just off the A141, and is staffed 24/7 by wholetime fire...

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority are proposing to increase their share of the council tax for 2023/2024 by 6.6 percent, which for a Band D property equates to an additional £4.95 a year and £79.92 in total. With spiraling inflation affecting costs of supplies, energy, fuel, pay, and everything else, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service was anticipating starting the 2023/24 financial year with a £1.1m deficit. Service improvement  Chief Fire Officer Chris...