This week I met with Deputy Chief Fire Officer Tony Carlin and colleagues gave me a tour of Lowedges Fire Station. I wanted to thank and commend them for their work during the recent heatwave which saw record temperatures across the country.

They faced an unprecedented demand for their services with the number of calls outnumbering their resources and had difficult decisions to make with having to prioritise calls and protect lives whilst facing the most difficult conditions having to tackle blazes in 40-degree heat.

The force also regularly shares resources across the borders when major incidents occur, but with colleagues from neighbouring counties dealing with the same issues the demand was truly unprecedented and it raises big questions about the future need in the fire service if we are going to see temperatures reach as high again.

We are facing another week of hot weather; South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s website is full of helpful tips and information to stay safe, you can also see their vacancies if you have ambitions to become a firefighter, officer or work in their control room. Home – South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue (syfire.gov.uk)