Lincolnshire’s employers praised for supporting on-call firefighters through busy Summer
Businesses and organisations across Lincolnshire are being thanked for their vital support of on-call firefighters following a demanding summer for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.
Over recent months, Lincolnshire has experienced a significant number of fires and other incidents across the county, placing increased demand on firefighters and emergency response resources.
Throughout this period, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue's on-call firefighters have continued to provide essential cover and respond to emergencies while balancing their firefighting responsibilities alongside full-time jobs, family commitments and everyday life.
Most of our on-call stations have not seen a busier summer. In July alone, Market Rasen responded to 58 incidents, while crews in Binbrook attended six call outs within a 24-hour period. It’s just two examples of dozens across the county, with each on call station showing incredible levels of determination and commitment in serving their communities.
The continued availability and commitment of on-call firefighters throughout the summer is a testament to their dedication to protecting their local communities. However, this level of response would not be possible without the support of employers, businesses and self-employed individuals who allow firefighters to leave work at a moment's notice when their pager sounds.
Mark Baxter, Chief Fire Officer at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: "The dedication and commitment shown by our on-call firefighters over the last few months has been nothing short of exceptional.
“We recognise that a significant thanks also needs to be directed towards our fantastic on-call employers who support our on-call firefighters responding to emergencies. That’s often adjusting workloads, covering shifts, changing schedules at a moment’s notice.
“Their support is absolutely vital, and we are incredibly fortunate to have such a strong network of employers who recognise the value of the on-call role and care deeply about their local communities in Lincolnshire. They have played a huge role in keeping our communities safer this Summer."
Being a large, rural county, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue's on-call firefighters form a critical part of the county's emergency response capability. Their ability to provide emergency cover often depends on the support they receive from employers, colleagues, family and friends.
Councillor Alex McGonigle, Executive Councillor for Fire and Rescue at Lincolnshire County Council, said: "Behind every on-call firefighter is a support network of employers, colleagues, families and friends who make it possible for them to serve their communities. Their contribution often happens behind the scenes but is absolutely crucial in helping keep our people safer.
“As we hopefully begin to move beyond the busy summer for fire and rescue, I want to thank every employer who has stood behind their staff when they have been called to incidents, every firefighter who has stepped forward to protect their communities, and everyone who has supported them along the way.”
If you want to help keep your community safer, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue are looking for more people to join on call. Find out more at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/oncall.