Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service is governed by law and
guidance; of particular relevance is the Fire Services Act
2004.
This act not only requires provision for firefighting purposes
but also promotion of fire safety, known as Community Safety (CS),
in Suffolk this CS is one component of a wider Community Safety
Strategy. Attendance at road traffic collisions is also a
requirement of the Act.
The act also provides express powers to respond to all kinds of
other emergencies, from serious flooding to dealing with the
aftermath of terrorism.
A Special Service is a service that responds to emergencies
other than fires.
Examples of emergency non-chargeable Special Services
include:
- attendance at road traffic collisions, including extrication of
casualties and making safe of vehicles;
- freeing entrapped people or animals;
- attendance at chemical/hazardous material incidents; and
- effecting entry if obviating a fire or life
risk.
Some Special Services are chargeable, click here for the
Scale of Charges (PDF, 29Kb), examples of chargeable Special
Services are:
- testing dry rising mains;
- effecting entry (no life or fire risk);
- recharging extinguishers; and
- attendance at chemical/hazardous material incident on private
property (other than domestic properties) if no life
risk.
For more information please telephone: 01473 260588 and ask for
the Duty Divisional Officer.