Fire bosses praise staff for response to Covid and floods

Hereford and Worcester fire bosses have recognised the work and effort of their staff in tackling both the coronavirus pandemic and dealing with extensive flooding across the two counties.

Assistant chief fire officer Jon Pryce said the service helped distribute personal protective equipment to local authorities and the NHS.

He told today’s (October 14) fire authority meeting that firefighters delivered around 146 pallets of equipment and more than 880,000 individual items being received and delivered by HWFRS staff.

This involved 30 members of staff and vehicles over four months working closely with West Mercia Police, NHS and the military.

Firefighters also provided face mask fitting and training for NHS and care workers.

They spent over 150 hours training staff from the Wye Valley NHS Trust.

“We do have some fairly tired staff and senior managers at the moment who have been working tirelessly now for months and months on end,” chief fire officer Pryce said.

“They have been managing very complex and difficult functions as well as delivering their day job.

“We have invested significant funds in preparations for these events.

“To be buying masses of extra stocks of PPE is something we undertook proactively as an organisation and put is good stead.”

Chairman Roger Phillips said the authority should record its appreciation for the efforts of all its staff during the last year.

“It shows that this is a service that ahs been under a high state of alert and pressure for much of the last 12 months,” he said.

“It is opportune for this authority to place on record its recognition of that pressure and continued degree of resilience has been required.”