We have 30 main frontline fire appliances and specialist appliances.
Pumping Appliances – Water Tender Ladder
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has 16 Water Tender Ladder Pumping Appliances. This type of appliance has a 13.5 metre ladder and a full range of firefighting and rescue equipment, including various hoses and pumps, cutting and heavy lifting equipment.
Watch Managers are in charge of these appliances which attend more serious incidents and road traffic accidents as well as house fires. All 16 appliances are fitted with CCTV cameras which can record incident footage and can help to protect crew and appliances.
There is one based at each of the following community fire stations in Tyne and Wear –
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Newcastle North Community Fire Station (Gosforth), Newcastle East Community Fire Station (Byker), Newcastle West Community Fire Station (West Denton) and Newcastle South Community Fire Station (Rye Hill).
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North Tyneside East Community Fire Station (North Shields), North Tyneside South Community Fire Station (Wallsend).
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South Tyneside East Community Fire Station (South Shields), South Tyneside West Community Fire Station (Hebburn).
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Sunderland Central Community Fire Station (North Moor Road), Sunderland North Community Fire Station (Fulwell), Sunderland East Community Fire Station (Millfield), Sunderland West Community Fire Station (Washington) and Sunderland South Community Fire Station (Rainton Bridge).
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Gateshead North Community Fire Station (Swalwell), Gateshead East Community Fire Station (Low Fell) and Gateshead South Community Fire Station (Birtley).
Pumping Appliances – Water Tender
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has 14 Water Tender Pumping Appliances. These appliances are the same as the Water Tender Pumping Appliance’s except they have a shorter ladder and a Crew Manager is in charge of this appliance. They have a 10.5 metre ladder and a full range of firefighting and rescue equipment. They attend less serious incidents such as rubbish fires and support the Water Tender Pumping Appliances as necessary. On occasions, they could be the first appliance in attendance at large incidents.
There is one based at each of the following community fire stations –
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Newcastle North Community Fire Station (Gosforth), Newcastle East Community Fire Station (Byker), and Newcastle South Community Fire Station (Rye Hill) and Newcastle West Community Fire Station (West Denton).
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North Tyneside East Community Fire Station (North Shields) and North Tyneside South Community Fire Station (Wallsend).
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South Tyneside East Community Fire Station (South Shields) and South Tyneside West Community Fire Station (Hebburn).
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Sunderland Central Community Fire Station (North Moor Road), Sunderland East Community Fire Station (Millfield) and Sunderland West Community Fire Station (Washington).
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Gateshead North Community Fire Station (Swalwell), Gateshead East Community Fire Station (Gateshead) and Gateshead West Community Fire Station (Chopwell).
Specialist Appliances
Aerial (high reach) Ladder platforms and Turntable Ladder
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has three Aerial Ladder Platforms (ALPs). They all have rescue cages whereby firefighters can enter and be lifted up to carry out a rescue safely. They can reach a height of 30 metres and are usually used to access buildings above third floors. The Service can also use them as a water tower, with the option of being operated from controls below.
The ALPs are based at the following community fire stations –
- Sunderland North Community Fire Station (Fulwell)
- Gateshead East Community Fire Station (Low Fell)
- Newcastle North Community Fire Station (Gosforth)
Fireboat
The Fireboat has rescue and firefighting capabilities and can deal with any water incident or fire on the quayside. It is moored at the Royal Marine Reserve on the Tyne.
Replacement Programme
The appliance replacement programme for Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service is now complete. The new appliances are equipped with the latest advanced firefighting technology, including new rescue lighting and pumping equipment and are fitted with the latest CCTV equipment, putting the safety of the community and firefighters’ foremost in the design.
Demonstrating the Service’s commitment to sustainability and value for money, the body of the appliances are fully recyclable, built from innovative lightweight PolyBilt co-polymer plastic. The bodywork can be re-mounted for a second life and will have a lifetime guarantee. The new appliance engines also meet stringent environmental standards, reducing polluting emissions by up to 80 percent.
The new digital radio communications equipment, Firelink are fitted to all appliances, providing clearer voice communications. It also gives the Service the ability to communicate with other emergency services in the region on the same radio network, which is vital when dealing with major incidents such as severe flooding or industrial accidents. This increases the resilience of the fire and rescue service nationally
Contact details for the Corporate Communications Team
For more information or to request additional factsheets, please complete the contact form or contact the Corporate Communications Team:
Michelle Atkinson, Corporate Communications Manager, 0191 444 1542 or michelle.atkinson@twfire.gov.uk
Nicci Westgarth Corporate Communications Officer on 0191 444 1513, nicola.westgarth@twfire.gov.uk or
Mike Chipchase, Corporate Communications Officer on 0191 444 1513, michael.chipchase@twfire.gov.uk
Julie Knox, Corporate Communications Officer on 0191 444 1725, julie.knox@twfire.gov.uk
Website – www.twfire.gov.uk
