Emergency cash for fire crews

been spent on the additional PPE required by our staff to deal with the virus and who continue to operate a full fire and emergency service,” the brigade added.

“We have also established a logistics cell which is now up and running to help provide a range of services that will help the most vulnerable in our communities.

“It is working closely with our public sector partners as co-ordinated and directed by our Local Resilience Forum.”

TWFRS also raised the prospect of extra staff being needed and added more Government cash may be needed as the lockdown continues ‘to meet all of our increased costs’.

Tyne and Wear’s chief fire officer, Chris Lowther, has also praised former firefighters who had answered a call to return to work during the virus crisis.

Government “emergency funding” confirmed this on March 30 allocating TWFRS £273,779.

County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Authority has been promised £125,448.

Bosses at the authority said the money could go towards extra costs including:

Extra shifts by firefighters to cover for others self-isolating or sick due to coronavirus; PPE for front line staff; Additional cleaning and decontamination supplies;

Homeworking software and equipment for support staff.

The Government Budget in March included a £5billion COVID-19 fund, of which £1.6b was to be directed to local council and fire authorities.

The North East is set to receive more than £130million under this scheme.