Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service News

Fearless firefighters have been praised for intervening and preventing fire at a farm from spreading and destroying more land. Shortly after 10.30 pm on Tuesday emergency services were called to a fire at a famer’s field in Burradon, North Tyneside. Fire Control staff at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) immediately deployed crews to the scene. They arrived on the scene and quickly began to battle the flames that were engulfing the farmer’s livelihood. Fire under contro...

These devastating pictures show the damage caused by a raging kitchen fire as firefighters issue a simple safety message to communities. Just before 1 pm on Saturday (20th August) emergency services were called to a house fire at a property in North Shields. Fire Control staff at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) immediately deployed crews to the two-storey semi-detached property on Waterville Road in North Shields. Providing a timely reminder They arrived within just six minutes...

A leading UK politician has praised staff at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS), after visiting their headquarters to learn how they are keeping children safe. On Wednesday, August 17, 2022, the UK Shadow Education Minister, Bridget Phillipson MP, visited the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to discover more about their educational input into their community. The Chief Fire Officer at the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS), Chris Lowther spent time with Ms. Phillipson...

Fearless firefighters have been praised for saving lives by preventing fire at a disused building from spreading to a residential street. Shortly after 6.30 pm on 17 august 2022, emergency services were called to a fire at a disused care home on Hollywood Avenue in Gosforth, Newcastle. Fire Control staff at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) immediately deployed crews to the scene. They arrived within just five minutes and quickly began to battle the flames tearing through...

Firefighters have been praised for saving dozens of homes after a huge grassland fire in Newcastle threatened to spread into a village. Just after 3 pm on Thursday, 11th August, 2022, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) received a call about a grass fire in Walbottle. Deploy resources fast TWFRS Fire Control staff was quick to deploy resources and within minutes the first appliances had arrived on scene. It was evident the fire was growing and spreading rapidly, with more than 30 fi...

Firefighters in Tyne and Wear have been battling a wildfire for more than 20 hours as they call on the public to work with them. Chiefs at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) have said that Wednesday evening was busier than Bonfire night with large fires across the region. Their crews were called out to a wildfire at fields in Ryton just after 3 pm which had spread over 3.5km and put nearby properties at risk. Six fire appliances, a fire boat, and 28 firefighters battled the blaze and...

As the holiday season begins for thousands of families across the region, emergency services have united to urge the public to take care of the water. The holiday season marks the beginning of the school summer holidays for millions of children but it also marks World Drowning Prevention Day. Recently, soaring temperatures led to an increase in tragedies in the water with 14 people sadly losing their lives to drowning in a matter of days. In the North East, 13-year-old Robert Hattersley wa...

Fire chiefs in Tyne and Wear have called on their communities to work with them and behave responsibly, as the United Kingdom (UK) braces itself for another heatwave. The UK Met Office have issued an Amber weather warning for Tuesday, August 9, 2022, in some parts of the United Kingdom (UK), with temperatures due to pass 30 Celsius again in the week. A yellow weather warning is in place across Northern England from midday today until Saturday, August 13, 2022. Dry weather conditions could lead...

The staff at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) has been praised, after inspectors rated the service as one of the top performing in the country. Tyne and Wear’s most senior fire officer has praised firefighters and fire staff after the Service was rated as ‘Good’ by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). It is the second inspection in a row that the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has been graded ‘Good&...

A new Chair has been appointed to the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority. Councillor Phil Tye was formally appointed at the meeting of the Authority at the Service’s Headquarters in Washington.  The extraordinary meeting was held after a decision on the appointment of a new chair could not be reached at the Annual General Meeting on June 27th. He will work with other members of the Fire Authority and Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther to create the safest community for reside...

Fire investigators have warned people to be careful with reflective items during the hot weather – after responding to a fire caused by a magnifying glass. The object was the unexpected culprit for the accidental blaze in Newcastle city center, after being left on a window sill at a commercial property. The initial call had come into the Tyne and Wear Fire & Rescue Service’s Fire Control at 10.03 am, on Saturday, June 18, 2022 and the first of three appliances were on scene in j...

Frontline firefighters in Tyne and Wear are benefitting from a ground-breaking new scheme, which sees them being trained in first aid and trauma support by a leading North East paramedic educator. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) have teamed up with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), in a scheme believed to be the first of its kind in England. TWFRS – NEAS partnership It has seen Paramedic Educator, Phil Barlow, who has 15-years frontline experience being seconded to...

Frontline firefighters in Tyne and Wear are benefitting from a ground-breaking new scheme, which sees them being trained in first aid and trauma support by a leading North East paramedic educator. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) have teamed up with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) in a scheme believed to be the first of its kind in England. trauma first aid training  Paramedic educator, Phil Barlow, who has 15-years of frontline experience being seconded to the...

Steph Archbold and Gillian Pickles of Love, Amelia are pictured with Mark Stewart, Kyle Shaw, and Andrew Lane of TWFRS outside of the charities offices holding examples of the donated waterproof clothing. The firefighters have been praised for re-supplying kits provided in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks to local good causes. Charities across the North East have thanked Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) for donating hundreds of ‘re-robing kits’. Contents and us...

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service hosted a Virtual Reality (VR) workshop series at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service HQ. Staff from around the service took part in the demonstrations, to explore the potential for using the technology in training. VR applications The final session of the day was attended by other fire and rescue services from around the country including Tyne and Wear, South Yorkshire, and Shropshire, as well as members of the National Fire Chiefs Council. The t...

Health officials have praised a North East Fire and Rescue Service after they helped set up a vaccination center in a matter of days. Millions of residents across the UK have been invited to receive their Coronavirus booster vaccination in the face of an increase in Omicron cases in recent weeks. The new strain has led to a spike in transmissions during the festive period and health officials have called on the public to protect themselves. But it has led to a huge demand for new vaccination...

Tyne & Wear FRS were called to a fire at a warehouse in Gateshead involving a propane gas-powered forklift truck and involving several wooden pallets. Three sprinkler heads installed in the roof void actuated, extinguishing the fire before the arrival of TWFRS Without the sprinkler system, there would have been significant damage to the business, potential risk of injury to members of staff, firefighters at risk of the propane gas-powered forklift truck cylinder exploding, the effect of whi...

Within just 48 hours of the government announcing the acceleration of the national vaccination program, fire and rescue services are already supporting the effort and have vaccinated hundreds of people.   Almost half a million vaccinations have been given by fire and rescue service staff this year – and this figure is set to rocket in the coming days as more services will be administering the boosters. Up to 2,500 fire and rescue services, staff could assi...

The Environment Agency secured a restriction order against a recycling firm, after it failed to comply with fire regulations despite numerous warnings about storing hazardous waste at a site near local homes. Shee Recycling in the North East town of Birtley stored large oil drums containing hazardous waste, cutting equipment, batteries, and fuel canisters, all of which were major fire hazards. Environment Agency secures restriction order The site is close to other commercial properties, the e...

Edesix, the pioneer in provision of Body Worn Cameras (BWC), wins the contract to supply BWCs to Tyne and Wear Fire Services. Edesix will supply 84 video badges to 23 sites across the county, with training and deployment beginning this month. The use of Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) for protecting staff, enhancing training and identifying best practice is fast becoming fundamental within fire services throughout the UK. Edesix already supplies West Midlands Fire Services, and Staffordshire Fire and...

Tyne and Wear Firefighters Gene (Clinton) Browne and his son, Curtis, have both been awarded Chief Fire Officer’s Commendations for outstanding contribution above and beyond the call of duty to their community. Gene who has recently retired from the White Watch at Gosforth Community Fire Station after 11 years and his son Curtis, from Gosforth’s Blue Watch, received their commendation (presented by Assistant Chief Fire Officer, John Baines) following a letter from Gateshead Councilo...

The first firefighters recruit course at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in almost a decade draws to an end this week. After 15 weeks of intensive training, Recruit Course 49/18 will close this Friday. The 23 recruits had their Passing out Parade which took place on Wednesday 13 February. The Parade is a long standing fire service tradition allowing the successful recruits the opportunity to showcase a small selection of their new skills. This includes a number of fire ground scenarios an...

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS), Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) and Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) have joined forces to launch FireStoppers – a new way for North East communities to provide anonymous information on deliberate fires. All three Services have been significantly affected by deliberate fires: CDDFRS – 2695 deliberate fires (figures for the year ending December 2018) NFRS – has seen a 21.5% increase to...

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) staff and volunteers are visiting busy shopping areas this week as part of a kitchen safety campaign. Firefighters were called to nearly 300 kitchen fires last year, with at least 91 people being injured. Now, the Service hopes to tackle this by sharing its tongue-in-cheek ‘Recipe for Disaster’, which lists ingredients and instructions for a dangerous blaze. Its aim is to make people think twice about staying safe while cooking, by drawi...

At least 91 people were injured in kitchen fires in our region over the last year, with cooking appliances known to have caused 82 of the incidents. Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) is urging people to cook safely with a new campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of ‘the usual suspects’ for causing kitchen fires, including chip pans, distraction and carelessness. 300 kitchen fires recorded in 2018/19 Chip pans continue to be a problem and these types of fire c...

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has published its inspection report on Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS). TWFRS was graded as Good in all three areas inspected. HMICFRS looked at how effectively and efficiently the Service prevents and protects the public from, and responds to, fires and other emergencies. It also examined how well they look after the people. In its summary the HMICFRS stated: “Overall, we commend Tyne...

Byker firefighters have been commended by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther for their lifesaving actions on the River Tyne. Crews were dispatched to the quayside at around 5am on Sunday May 5 after receiving reports of a woman threatening to jump from the Tyne Bridge. During their journey to the River Tyne, they received an update confirming that she had jumped into the water. Locating woman using thermal imaging camera When the crews arrived at the pontoo...

At Annual General Meeting of the Tyne and Wear Fire Authority, Councillor Tony Taylor was appointed as the new Chair. Tony has been a Councillor for Washington East in Sunderland since 2014 and is employed locally as a clamp truck driver. Tony has been a member of the Fire Authority since May 2018, and replaces the previous Chair, Barry Curran. Commenting on his appointment, Tony said: “I am delighted to have been appointed Chair of the Fire Authority. This is a new era for the fire servi...

A former cadet, who went on to volunteer with the fire service has now started working at the station where it all began. Tamsin Carmichael was just 12 years old when she joined the West Denton Fire Cadet unit. When she turned 18 last year, she became a volunteer with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service as a cadet instructor at her former cadet branch. And now the 18-year-old from Blakelaw has come full circle by starting her working career at West Denton. Playing a role in creating safest c...

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) is supporting the position of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) in urging the UK Government to change its stance on sprinklers. In particular it is asking for sprinklers: to become a requirement in all new high-rise residential structures to be retro-fitted in buildings more than 30 metres tall when they are refurbished should be retro-fitted in high-rise residential buildings over 30 metres with a single staircase, regardless of refurbish...