Ambulance idea for firefighters considered

Firefighters could help out by driving ambulances under plans being considered to deal with the coronavirus outbreak.

A top fire chief said discussions are still in early stages with health bosses, with extra staff being made available for vehicle maintenance also a possibility.

However, no decisions have yet been made over how such an arrangement between the two services would work – or even if it is necessary during the current crisis.

“We’re looking at the additional roles we can do,” said Stuart Errington, Chief Fire Officer (CFO) at the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS).

“We’re working closely with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) about providing them with blue light drivers and providing people to decontaminate ambulances.

“That is not there now, but we’re preparing for what things may be like a few weeks from now.”

Although COVID deaths and infections continue to rise across the country, putting greater strain on health services, many fire brigades have seen a decrease in the number of incidents they are attending.

According to CFO Errington, while the virus has forced CDDFRS to ‘operate in a completely different way to normal’, its response to fires and other emergencies remains the same.

While absence rates are running slightly higher than usual, at about six per cent, this has been offset in other ways, with more on-call parttime firefighters working from home due to social distancing regulations and available for more shifts.