Fire service reveals plans for emergency coverage across Fylde coast

The Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) has published its proposed emergency coverage plans for across the Fylde coast.
The fire service has released its latest emergency cover plansThe fire service has released its latest emergency cover plans
The fire service has released its latest emergency cover plans

No changes are proposed across the whole of the county, while a new system will mean crews will be on their engines and out the fire station doors faster than ever.

A consultation period is now underway, and will last until October 10. The Fire Authority is then expected to make a decision on changes at a meeting in November.

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An Emergency Cover review is carried out every three to four years, and is 'an examination of risk and activity levels', documents said.

According to the service's website, Blackpool's Forest Gate station has two full time fire engines and an aerial ladder platform (ALP), South Shore has one full time engine and a 'prime mover', which is a truck used to ferry specialist equipment to and from call-outs.

Bispham has a daytime crew and engine and a reserve engine, Fleetwood and St Annes both have one full time engine and one retained engine, while Preesall, Wesham, Lytham, and Garstang have one retained engine each.

Under the proposals, nothing would change in terms of coverage until at least 2020.

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The new 'pre-alerting' policy, if adopted, would means crews are alerted to emergency calls faster, which the service believes could shave a minute off response times.

Currently, crews are not informed of 999 calls until the operator has gathered the information and ended the call.

The new system would see them be given an earlier message, allowing them to change into protective gear and climb aboard their fire engine.

A spokesman said it has the 'potential to save lives'.

The fire service has made its draft document available to view online here.