Fire victim support service launched

The Red Cross are launching the initiative in partnership with North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service, after it has been successfully piloted in other parts of Yorkshire.

Firefighters will now be accompanied by trained Red Cross volunteers when they attend an emergency to give emotional and practical support to the individuals or families affected, including helping to find alternative accommodation or start making an insurance claim.

Station manager Cecil Pugh, from North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said: “We are delighted to be able to work with the Red Cross on this initiative.

“The consequences of a serious fire or flood on the occupants of a home can often be devastating.

“While we do everything we can to prevent fires occurring in the first place, and deal with them speedily and effectively when they do occur, there are often occasions when we wish we could do more for those affected.

“This new service will enable us to offer the fantastic support the Red Cross are able to provide and I have no doubt that it will be of great benefit to the communities of North Yorkshire in the future.”

Dee Phillips, from Cottingham, has volunteered for the Red Cross for almost 25 years and set up Red Cross’s fire and emergency support service in Hull in 1993. Since then she has helped hundreds of people in incidents.

She is now service co-ordinator for the North Yorkshire scheme.

“We’re proud and excited to start working with North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service – while they deal with the fire or emergency at hand we are there to support the people affected,” she said.

“Over the years I’ve realised that there’s often more to a fire than fighting flames. For the people involved it can be a really traumatic experience, and it’s our job to give them whatever support we can.”