British first with fire service’s private deal

A community interest company set up by Humberside Fire and Rescue will provide a crew of firefighters at the Tata Steel site 365 days a year.

All surplus from the three-year deal will go back into funding safety initiatives.

Traditionally firefighting on sites like Tata Steel have been provided by on-site personnel.

The company, HFR Solutions, offers a wide range of chargeable services to private customers.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Dene Sanders, a director of HFR Solutions, said: “This is a very exciting opportunity for us as it could lead the way for us to gain future contracts and for other fire and rescue services to do the same.

“Should this type of project prove successful it will allow us to put money into creating safer communities, increase availability of our fire engines and enhance the skills of our emergency services personnel leading to a more effective service.”

The three-year contract covers all on-site emergencies including trauma care with crews operating ambulances. The firefighters will offer 24-hour cover from an on-site fire station. The brigade said extra training would make the Tata crew “some of the most highly trained officers in the service”.

Area Manager Nick Granger, who is also a director of the CIC, said: “The emergency team has been selected to deliver a very high level of service required by Tata Steel.

“They will also receive additional training, particularly in trauma care, that will mean they are amongst the most highly trained within Humberside.”

Tata Steel said HFR Solutions would provide a “further boost to our focus on safety.”