Long Stratton

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Long Stratton

Address: Swan Lane, Long Stratton, NR15 2XHP

Drill Night: Thursday

Incidents attended: Click here for incident information

This is a retained station. It has a crew consisting of one Watch Manager and two Crew Managers and nine Firefighters. There is also a Fire Cadets unit based here.

Contact us

If you need a school visit we target these at Year 2 for Key Stage 1, Year 5 for Key Stage 2 and Year 8 for Key Stage 3. If you have someone who is fire-setting and wish to discuss this with one of our advisors please contact us. We are sometimes also able to attend Community events but this will depend on resources, and we tend to target this to priority areas of our service. We do always look forward to hearing from you with any other queries.

Resources

Rescue Pump

This section contains notes written by the crews of this station.

Long Stratton fire station is located at Swan lane approximately 100 metres from the main A140 junction. We have one appliance, a Mercedes 1222 which carries a wide range of equipment, enabling us to perform the tasks of firefighters. We are a retained fire station, this meaning that we utilise pocket alerters/pagers as way of alert to a fire call, we sleep in our own homes and only go to the station when necessary.

Long Stratton also has the addition of having a Fire Cadet Unit where young people between 13 and 18 are trained in all the safety aspects of fire fighting. They drill on a Wednesday evening between 1900 and 2100, if anyone is interested you can call in at this time alternatively, Contact us.

The Retained fire fighters drill on a Thursday evening between 1900 and 2130, if anyone is interested in joining the retained service then please call in at this time alternatively, Contact us.

History

Things have come on a long way since 1896 when the first Merryweather pump was bought for just £150. The pump was stored in a shed on Flowerpot Lane, which can still be seen today. Horses were used to pull the pump and 16 men were needed to crew it. The firemen were called by 2 maroons being sent up, 1 exploded in the air and 1 on the ground, the horses were collected and the pump turned out! This pump was last used in around 1935. This Fire Engine is believed to be still in Norfolk, the station is looking for information on its current location.

The next trailer pump was stored in a garage during WW2 and was pulled by any available vehicle.

Next came an engine that was similar to today's. This was kept in a cart shed in the Angel Public house car park, the trailer pump was still pulled at this time. The firemen used to have their drill night in the Angel Pub. By this time a siren was being used instead of maroons as way of alert, when the siren sounded the men would go out and crew the fire engine. During the night the siren was not used, each fireman had a bell in their home which sounded when there was a firecall.

The fire engine moved to it's present location in the early 1960s.

How to Find the Station

The New Fire Station at Ryston Close was opened on the 16th June 2006, having moved from the Priory road site which had provided 70 years of service to the community, during that time the town and local area had developed to a point where a larger modern station with better access was required.

This is a very active station dealing with incidents over a large area, including major road and rail networks, river systems, Industrial estates, and a growing population

Each year Downham Market compile their station plan. The plan enables the station management team to ensure that they are well prepared to deal with emergency in the local and wider areas.

The priorities for 2009/10 are:

RESPONSE

SERVICE PRIORITY : OPERATIONAL ASSURANCE

Improve our systems for securing operational assurance

STATION PRIORITIES:

1. Improve Core Skills

2. Maintain appliance and equipment in a constant state of readiness

3. Improve appliance availability.

PREVENTION

SERVICE PRIORITY: OLDER PEOPLE

Improve the safety of older people in their homes

STATION PRIORITIES:

1. Risk assess the vulnerability of the occupier following false alarm domestic dwelling calls and where necessary refer to partner agency to provide support.

2. Undertake a quick strike following a fire in a residential street.

3. Utilise opportunities to generate HFRC referrals for older people.

PROTECTION

SERVICE PRIORITY: SMOKE DETECTORS

Increase the number of working smoke detectors in domestic dwellings

STATION PRIORITIES:

1. Undertake quick strike following a fire in a residential street.

2. Fit or provide smoke alarms in properties visited during emergency calls where none exist.

3. Utilise opportunities to generate HFRC referrals.

PEOPLE

SERVICE PRIORITY: PEOPLE

To improve the overall competence of the workforce

STATION PRIORITIES:

1. Complete appraisals; undertake reviews and action training needs.

2. Improve use of PDR Pro.

3. Concentrate on risk critical training and core skills.

MANAGE

SERVICE PRIORITY: EFFICIENCY

To achieve future efficiency targets

STATION PRIORITIES:

1. Improve appliance availability.

2. Reduce hours lost due to sickness.

3. Reduce injuries by focusing training on risk critical areas.

COMMUNITY

SERVICE PRIORITY: UNDERSTANDING OUR COMMUNITY

To provide services that reflect the needs and expectations of the community

STATION PRIORITIES:

1. Support one major village event.

2. Respond to all requests positively giving explanation where station cannot support an event and signpost them to alternative sources of information (leaflets, CFS team, LRM support, website)

3. Liaise with partner agencies to develop customer focused initiatives to improve our prevention and protection targets.