Beds FRS trial relocation of fire engine to Luton Ambulance Station

Following research carried out on the availability of emergency cover, data indicated that Fire Service attendance times could be improved in Luton and Central Bedfordshire by moving one appliance from Luton Fire Station closer to the north of Luton.

Due to Luton Ambulance Station being usefully located in this area, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance Service have taken the opportunity to maximise the benefits of the close partnership between the agencies by trialling the location of one fire appliance at Luton Ambulance Station.

Station Commander at Luton Community Fire Station, Anthony Doherty said, “This is a fantastic opportunity to collaborate further with EEAST and put this data to the test to optimise our response within Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. This is one of the biggest redeployments of our assets since Stopsley fire station was built in the 1980’s.

“We are committed to ensuring the residents of Luton and Bedfordshire continue to receive a first-class fire and rescue response. We believe that whatever the result of the trial this will be a success in terms of demonstrating that we will leave no stone unturned in pursuit of public and firefighter safety.”

The trial, which commenced in September, will capture real life data based on the modelling to measure first and second appliance attendance times during peak hours in Luton and Central Bedfordshire to assist our Emergency Cover Review. Capturing both qualitative and quantitative data will aid the research in relation to emergency response within Luton, Stopsley, Dunstable and Toddington.