The East Sussex fireworks factory tragedy, resulting in the deaths of two firefighters with nine others injured, has rocked the Service. FIRE would again like to take this opportunity to pass on our sincerest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Brian Wembridge and Geoffrey Wicker. The paper which opens this feature was completed the day before the fire and has been included because of the writer’s sensitive and intelligent approach to the subject. It is of crucial importance that this traumatic subject is addressed appropriately and this paper, we believe, can make a serious contribution to fire and rescue services improving these arrangements. The comments of a US police chief documented in the report give reason enough for inclusion. “There are lots and lots of management courses for officers and deputies, but I have never, ever seen one hour devoted to the question, ‘what is your role when one of your officers dies in the line of duty?’”

Combination Seal of Approval

The central, regional and local service delivery debate has been rumbling on for years and the size of fire and rescue services is a constant source of media attention. Devon and Somerset have taken the boldest of moves in combining resources to create what will become the sixth largest fire and rescue service in England and Wales with almost 2,000 uniformed and 220 non-uniformed staff. It will be the largest non-metropolitan FRS in England and Wales. As the amalgamation receives the Parliamentary seal of approval the two chief officers extol the virtues of this move and describe how it has and will continue to be implemented to the satisfaction of the workforce and improved service to the public.