Fire Engines Photos

As from today(1/2/11)this appliance(W689AOR)is no longer on the run at Lancing Fire Station and the station has now been down graded to a one pump retained station.
In January, the 2 pump wholetime station at Horley and the 2 pump retained station at East Preston were also down graded to one pump stations.
Another big change at the beginning of January within the West Sussex Fire&Rescue Service was the up-grading of the retained fire station at Littlehampton to a Day-Manned station.
The real bad news due to cut-backs is the closing of 3 retained one pump fire stations.I understand that by the end of February, 2011, the retained stations at Keymer, Bosham and Findon will close there appliance room doors for the very last time.
This is the first time since 1966 that a fire station has closed in the County of West Sussex, but could this be just the start of many changes within the brigades structure over the next few years?.

Added by Pete Matten on 01 February 2011.

Hi Pete, Dont forget Station 25 Burgess Hill has also been upgraded to Day Manned aswell.

Cheers

Matt

Added by Matt Brown on 02 February 2011.

Pete, I have heard rumours also that forthcoming reviews may see three other retained stations down graded to one pump stations next year.
This is a shame as once the second appliance has gone it will never get replaced. My own feelings are that these policies being put into place in all walks of public service and cutbacks are in many instancies going a stage to far.

Added by BOB CARVER on 02 February 2011.

there closing 2 stations in Warwickshire this year as well. Warwick been 1 of them.

Added by Tom on 02 February 2011.

Thanks Matt, I forgot Burgess Hill had been up graded to a Day-Manned station also.
There must now be only three 2 pump retained stations in the brigade, Storrington, Midhurst and Petworth.If the rumour like Bob's mensioned happens in due course and these three retained stations are also downgraded to one pump stations, that'll be a lose of 9 front-line pumping appliances over a two year period from the brigades operational fleet-what ever next?.
I note the whole-timers are being looked after as always, no cut-backs there.Still its not as bad as days of old, we shouldn't have to have buckets of water ready by our front doors, we now have water supplied so we can have a buckets at the ready in each room in case of fire.Lets be honest, you just might need it now???.

Added by Pete Matten on 03 February 2011.

Pete/Bob
As you say Storrington, Midhurst & Petworth are now the only 2 pump retained stations. When the last lot of cuts got announced we at Petworth thought we would lose our 2nd pump. The thing to remember is that even if they are quiet 2nd pumps which they are at 2 in the morning when you get a persons reported you need that 2nd pump. The 3 stations mentioned are a fair way from a whole time station 12 miles for Midhurst & Petworth.
1 thing that has been mentioned is an appliance that will combine the role of 2nd pump & L4T for these 3 stations. Interesting times ahead.

Added by Stuart Purves on 04 February 2011.

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