Press Release - Service celebrates extended cover at Yate Fire Station

Wednesday 4 March
0800 hrs 

A ceremony to mark the expansion of cover at Yate Fire Station is to take place on Wednesday 4 March.

Over the next few years an extra 30,000 new homes are expected to be developed in the South Gloucestershire area, many of these in Yate and the surrounding area.

In order to ensure greater protection for the communities living in these areas and to enhance the service’s response times at night Avon Fire & Rescue Service has recently expanded its fire cover.

Firefighters now crew the station 24 hours a day, with Retained Duty System firefighters responding to 999 calls from their homes or places of work via a pager during busy times.

The ceremony to mark the extension of fire cover at Yate Fire Station will take place from 10.00hrs, with staff, councillors and members of the community attending.

Chief Fire Officer / Chief Executive for Avon Fire & Rescue Service, Kevin Pearson said: “The decision to extend fire cover at Yate Fire Station has been taken with the safety of our community at the core. With the ever-expanding housing developments in the town and surrounding area it is vital to maintain a first class fire and rescue service for the community.

“We already have two fire stations, Bath and Weston-super-Mare, operating very well under this system, with Wholetime and Retained Duty firefighters working together to protect the community."

Yate Fire Station Manager Steve Kendrick said: “This is a great day for Avon Fire & Rescue Service and in particular Yate Fire Station. With the new arrangements now in place we are able to spend more time working with community groups and members of the public to highlight fire safety messages.

“The changes also mean local groups can now use the Community Safety Centre, which has a free meeting room and Information Communication Technology (ICT) facilities, in the evenings. There will also be facilities for the local Police Community Support Officers so that they can use the fire station as a base."

Ends