Contact us in an emergency
To contact us in an emergency please dial 999 and ask for the fire service.
Emergency text messages
If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, contacting the emergency services can be difficult. You may find using text messaging quicker and easier.
The information below explains how to set up your phone so that it's ready in the event of an emergency.
Registering your phone
Before you can use the service you will need to register your phone.
To register your phone, send a text to 999 containing the word Register. You will receive a reply with instructions for you to follow.
Contacting the emergency services
If you need to contact the emergency services, send a text message with the following information to 999
Which emergency service do you require?
- You should start your text with either Fire, Police, Ambulance or Coastguard.
What is the emergency?
- Provide a brief description
Where is the emergency taking place?
- Enter the name of the road and house number or any nearby landmarks.
Keep your phone switched on!
The emergency service will reply to your emergency text in about two minutes. Do not assume your message has been received until you get this response.
If you don't receive a response within three minutes you should send another message and attempt to find another way of getting help.