Station open day

NEWS RELEASE

Opening doubles as safety alert
A MOCK Christmas scene was set alight so firefighters could demonstrate their work and the importance of fire safety at the official opening of the new Lutterworth fire station.

Seventeen crew members put out the controlled blaze in front of families, Lutterworth MP Andrew Robathan, chief fire officer of Leicestershire Dave Webb, mayor Eileen Derrick, retired firefighters and fire and police authority representatives.
Crew manager Pete Brand said: "It was a bit smoky, but we put it out. It was choking all the guests.
"But it just shows what could happen with cigarettes that haven't been properly extinguished or Christmas lights which are faulty."
Work started on the new station in March but was delayed by a few weeks after a construction hiccup where the foundations were made too small to house the two appliances was discovered – the legal battle is still on-going to determine the reason.
The fire station is the first stage of a joint South Leicestershire fire, health and police authorities plan to build a fire station, health centre and police car park on the site.
Dave Glenis, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue group manager, said: "It is a lot more comfortable."
The station has electric insulated doors, a kit room and a compressor to fill breathing apparatus cylinders, which have had to be filled at Hinckley in the past.
Certificates of thanks were given by Mr Webb to employers who allow their workers to be retained firefighters.
Copies of a painting of the station fire engine by district artist Pam Lowe were sold and the proceeds will go towards Cancer Relief and the National Fire Service Benevolent Fund.
Among the speeches made, was a talk on the history of the fire service in Lutterworth by Cllr Derrick.
She said: "Now it's a really good, modern building. The men are so well trained. They have such horrific accidents to deal with on the motorways; it is not an easy job."

Note to Editors

Contact Information

For more information please contact

Paul Coughlan
PSC
01455 557877
paul@pscfiresafety.com