We're here to help in the aftermath of an emergency (From Warrington Guardian)

We're here to help in the aftermath of an emergency

IT is a commonly asked question - what would you save if you home burned down?

For most of us, luckily, this issue is only ever a hypothetical on, but what if it happened for real?

What if you lost all your possessions in a fire or even a flood? Your biggest problems could well include finding somewhere to have a shower, getting some clothes, calling the bank and council or even feeding a young child.

But believe it or not, it is a team of volunteers from the British Red Cross who tend to those affected by a fire or flood.

The Cheshire branch of the fire and emergency support service is based at Birchwood Fire Station, Warrington, and operates an out of hours service in partnership with Cheshire Fire Service between 6pm and 8am during the week and 24 hours at the weekend and on bank holidays.

The volunteers go anywhere in Cheshire and beyond to support the victims of a fire by providing practical advice and assistance. A specially adapted vehicle is driven to the scene to provide a quiet, dry, safe and warm shelter.

The volunteers cater for everything you could possibly need in the aftermath of a blaze, from comfort packs, toys for youngsters, transport to relatives homes and a throw away camera to take photos of the damage.

They can be called out up to seven times a month, although volunteers carry out different shifts.

Fire support service coordinator is former firefighter and Wincham resident John Rimmer.

He said: "We go out when the fire service receives a call to a house fire or flood which basically leaves the property uninhabitable.

"We cover the whole of the area so aside from Northwich and Winsford, we go to other areas such as Warrington and Crewe."

He added: "We are basically there to help in the aftermath of an incident for a few hours, to give people emotional support, help with the practicalities and point them in the right direction. We often can take people to a relative's house - we once drove someone all the way to Leek."

Their vehicle is filled with everything you could imagine, clothes, a phone, food, hot drinks, a shower and a toilet, and of course all those important numbers that you suddenly need to call such as the insurance firm or electricity company.

Everything they offer people is donated, many of it from corporate companies, although all the clothes they give to people are new.

John, who was on his way to pick up a large batch of new clothing from a Winsford company after we spoke, said a big part of the work is helping people cope.

"It is a bit of a shock for people but their reactions are often similar," he said.

"The diffrence is that people turn it down at first when they think they have to pay - even though there is no charge at all."

He recalled one incident in Barnton when the group arrived on the scene they found a man without any belongings or clothes apart from a sheet tied around himself.

For the future there are plans which could extend the service they offer to non-motorway road accidents and perhaps large incidents where people are evacuated out of their homes.

The group is always on the lookout for new volunteers who John says are what keeps the service going.

He added: "It is totally dependant on the goodwill of our volunteers and the fact they are willing to go out and help."

There are currently 15 volunteers on the team and the only stipulation to join is that you are over 18 and live within a half hour drive of Birchwood Fire Station.

To find out how you can get involved, call John on 01565 650201.