THE WILTSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE in England is expanding its services to the citizens by adding “animal rescue” to its mandate.
The local RSPCA chapter has donated £14,000 ($25,000) to the fire dept. to support “rural safety” in their district. Much of that donation was used by the fire chief to purchase a life-size mannequin horse to allow his FF’s to train in animal rescue.
BBC News reports:
Chief Fire Officer Andy Goves said: “This will ensure people and animals are better protected during difficult and traumatic rescues.”
More than 60 firefighters are currently undergoing animal rescue training. Specialist animal rescue equipment is also being bought and firefighters from Stratton and Amesbury are being trained in rescue techniques.
“We carried out a thorough review of our rural safety procedures earlier this year and it became clear that we needed to make a large-scale investment in more specialist equipment and training,” said Goves.
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Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Headquarters Complex
Firegeezer comments: While fire and rescue services everywhere are tightening their belts and sometimes even reducing their response levels, Wiltshire F&R is actually expanding its rescue service beyond the needs of humans and now placing animals in their care.
While it is not unusual for fire and EMS people to occasionally assist citizens with animal problems, most incidents are usually handled by the local animal control authority. But here we see a full-scale fire dept. absorbing that responsibility. What do you think about that?
Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service WEBSITE.
