The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Long Sutton firefighters will be among the first in the county to join paramedics aboard new “fire ambulances” as part of a £491,000 trial.
At present fire crews from across the county are called as co-responders to some medical emergencies when it is possible for them to reach the scene before an ambulance.
Crews can provide life-saving first aid until a paramedic arrives.
But some fire crews, including Long Sutton, have been selected to trial one of three new fire ambulances – jointly manned by firefighters and paramedics from East Midlands Ambulance Service.
The scheme, which came about following a successful bid for funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government, starts later this year.
It follows the release of figures which show that Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue now attends more co-responding calls to help at medical emergencies than it does fires.
A report to Lincolnshire County Council this week highlights how the fire service is looking for new ways to protect its future and prevent closure of fire stations.
It says: “In the present financial situation of our council, the fire and rescue service will be obliged to contribute to the cuts in spending.
“While it is true that fires, and particularly fire deaths, have fallen steadily in recent years, the rural nature of Lincolnshire means that reductions in the number of fire stations would result in an unacceptable increase in response times to emergencies.
“Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is therefore embarking on a new range of fire-related activities, made possible by recent legislation, to derive income for our county.”
To that end, the fire service has set up a new “trading company” so it can market its training services commercially to other fire services and businesses.
In the past, fire and rescue services have been restricted by legislation to being “non-profit making”, but legislation has now been changed.
The county’s fire service has also entered into a contract with the British Frozen Foods Federation, which represents more than 200 businesses including Asda, Aldi and Iceland to provide fire safety advice.
The report says: “Our county’s economic reliance on the food industry makes this a most appropriate business arrangement”.
