Salvation Army bolster support for Essex Fire and Rescue with new Incident Support Unit
published on 11 Jun 2021
The Salvation Army has partnered with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service to provide support to firefighters at large-scale incidents.
The Incident Support Unit (ICU) will be based at Clacton Fire Station where Incident Commanders can request it when crews are needed for an extended time. The Salvation Army volunteers will provide cold food/snacks and hot drinks and handwashing facilities will also be available.
Similar Incident Support Unit partnerships already operate with other fire and rescue services in the UK, including in London and Suffolk, and have been very successful.
Adrian Clee, Territorial Emergency Response Officer, said: “The Salvation Army has a long tradition of supporting our emergency services with welfare support at larger or more protracted incidents.
“We have agreements with fire services across much of the UK and it is great to now be able to extend that frontline support to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.
“We look forward to developing a strong working relationship and providing solid support to teams on the ground.”
Ryan Ainger, Operational Policy Station Manager at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service said The Salvation Army unit will significantly enhance welfare provisions.
He commented: “It will provide crews with a much better facility while they take a well-deserved break from an incident, enabling them to recharge with a snack and rehydrate with a drink.
“As they are providing the service at no cost, we have agreed to cover the vehicle’s annual servicing and MOT costs as a token of our appreciation and to help ensure the vehicle is always ready to respond.
“On behalf of our Service, I’d like to thank The Salvation Army for their support, which will make a big difference to our firefighters.
