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Byker Community Fire Station

Byker Community Fire Station
Byker Community Fire Station

Our Station

Opened in 2005, Byker Community Fire Station is located on Union Road, Byker on the east side of Newcastle city centre. It covers areas of both Newcastle and North Tyneside Councils, which include Byker, Walker, Heaton and Jesmond. 

The station has three fire appliances and is staffed by 48 full time fire-fighters and 8 support staff. The staff are the main asset and, in addition to responding to emergencies, undertake a range of Community Safety (CS) activities that are primarily aimed at preventing fires and deaths and injuries in fires. 

The main response for water incidents and floods is based at Newcastle East Community Fire Station and all operational staff are trained as Swiftwater Rescue Technicians.  Equipment includes a Fireboat for use on the River Tyne as well as smaller emergency rescue boats which attends incidents on the River Wear and other inland water risks.

The station includes a Community Safety Centre, which houses the Community Team, Centre Administrator and Young Fire-fighters Association (YFA). A further police presence in a local beat office is also contained within the nearby Clifford Street Police Station providing for all the community’s safety and security needs. 

The Community Safety Centre also boasts a 40 seater auditorium which has modern IT presentation capabilities and a meeting room for use by community groups. Computer facilities including access to the Internet, will also become available for further educational learning. This entire facilitywhich has been designed to be fully accessible and hence, enable usage by all of our visitors,is integrated within a fully functional fire station. 

The Area

The geographical area served by Byker Community Fire Station, varies greatly from relatively affluent residential to significant areas of social deprivation. Heavy industry was once the mainstay of this area with the shipyards and associated light industries supporting, however much of the heavy industrial areas continue to be replaced by modern light industrial and retail developments.

 The population, based on the 2001 Census, is 72,451 persons who are predominantly from Anglo-Saxon background with an ethnic group accounting for 5.4%. There are 34,553 dwellings within the Station area with approximately: -

  • 45% Owner Occupied

  • 33% Local Authority Rented

  • 14% Privately Rented

  • 5% Housing Association Rented
     

Single parent families occupy 7% of dwellings, with 16.2% single pensioner households.  

Levels of unemployment across this area indicate 13.4% for males and 6.7% for females. These figures reflect the socio-economic groups residing within individual neighbourhoods, which can be linked to the risk of dwelling fires occurring within the area. This is illustrated in the above map by the red areas, which also link to many of the traditional heavy industrial areas, housing many of the lower paid and unemployed. The red areas indicate those areas where the risk of having a dwelling fire is well above average, orange is above average, yellow is average, blue is below average and green is well below average.

 New developments include the retail shopping park on the old PTE bus depot site on the Fossway and the continual re-development around the Shields Road and Byker Wall areas.

Young Firefighter Association - hose 1
Young Firefighters in Action

Introduction

In September 1992, Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Service, in partnership with the Newcastle City Challenge, opened its first branch of the Young Firefighters Association at the West Road Fire Station.  The primary strategic objective was to strengthen the social and community infrastructure, which after the inner city disturbance had become a little fragile. 

Young people who were accepted into the organisation came from a wide and varied background. Those who were at risk of offending, non-attendees at school, as well as those who academically were doing well and who were expected to progress into further education. This fine balance of character and personality helped to set the foundations of a successful Branch

What We Offer

During the meetings the Young Firefighters are given practical and theoretical instructions on Fire Service related subjects. The training is of a comparable standard to that of operational firefighters taking into account age, height and weight differences. 

In addition to the weekly meetings, Young Firefighters are also involved in:

  • attending Fire Service ceremonial occasions

  • displaying their skills on open days and summer fairs, attending drill comps.

  • High Sheriff award scheme

  • public relations in the community

  • National and International Camps (Croatia, Finland, Holland, France)

Young Firefighter Association - Young Firefighter
Young Firefighter Association

Aims and Objectives 

  • To enable young people aged between 13 and 17 to join a uniformed organisation associated with the Fire Service.

  • To aid personal development mentally, physically and socially.

  • To help develop leadership qualities and the ability to try new experiences.

  • To help develop team skills with mutual support.

Contact Us 

Address 

Byker Community Fire Station
Union Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyne and Wear
NE6 1EH

 

Telephone 

+44 (0)191 444 1140 

e-Mail

byker@twfire.gov.uk

 

Home Risk Assessment
Home Safety Check

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service is committed to achieving it's Vision of 'Creating the Safest Community' by reducing the risk of fire in domestic premises through Home Safety Checks.  

Firefighters can visit your home, where you may be at the greatest risk from fire, and offer simple advice on Fire Safety, tailored specifically to your needs. We can also, where necessary fit free smoke detectors, and in certain cases, provide a deep fat fryer to replace a conventional chip pan. 

We are currently targeting our resources those households most at risk, but will attend to you as soon as possible if you request this service. 

Follow the link for further information on the assessment process and how to request a Home Safety Check