Residents are being given the opportunity to find out more about their local Fire and Rescue Service at a number of open days organised by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service this summer.
Gateshead South Community Fire Station on Durham Road, Birtley, will throw open its doors to residents on Saturday 17 July from 11am to 3.00pm for a day of fun. Firefighters will be on hand to give fire safety advice to visitors about the importance of having working smoke alarms, how to plan an escape route in case of fire, keeping safe in the kitchen while cooking and how to avoid electrical fires. There will also be operational drills and chip pan demonstrations. Visitors will also be able to sign up for a free home safety check to advise them on how to minimise the risk of fire happening in their homes.
There'll be opportunities to look around the station yard, appliance room and the fire appliances, see how the specialist equipment works and learn how firefighters deal with different emergency situations.
Children will love the excitement of seeing firefighters and real fire appliances and they will be given the opportunity to dress up in authentic fire kit. Entrance is free and there will be funfair rides, side stalls and food, and there will be something to keep the whole family entertained and informed.
Information and advice will also be available for people who are thinking about a career in the fire and rescue service. The fire and rescue service doesn’t just employ firefighters but offers a wealth of other opportunities including Human Resources, Finance and ICT. Plus, staff from the Service's Prevention and Education teams will be talking about the work the Service does to prevent fires from happening in the first place, such as going into schools to speak to pupils about fire safety, the Phoenix Project and the Young Firefighters Association.
District Manager for Gateshead Steve Stokoe, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, explains why the open days are an important feature in the Fire and Rescue Service's calendar: "Keeping the public safe drives the work of everyone in Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service. People often think they can't come into a fire station but we want to welcome residents in and invite them to use the new community rooms. Open days like this are a chance for us to spread our community safety messages and help people find out how to keep themselves and their families safe from fire."
He continues: "People know that the fire and rescue service puts out fires and attends road traffic collisions, but there's so much more work that we do to help create the safest community. More and more time is spent working with the community on fire safety initiatives to protect our most vulnerable residents and their homes from fire; carrying out home fire safety checks where we give occupiers advice on preventing fires in the home, helping them to develop a fire escape plan and fitting free smoke detectors. Our open days are a great family day out packed full of attractions."
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