Support for firefighters tackling industrial estate blaze

Firefighters were supported this week by The Salvation Army while tackling a blaze at an industrial estate in Gateshead. 

The church and charity’s Emergency Response Vehicle was on hand providing hot drinks, food and pastoral support to 999 workers from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service involved in the incident. 

The fire at an industrial unit in the Birtley area of the town caused major disruption on Tuesday afternoon leading to the closure of a train line. 

Stephen Slade, who leads The Salvation Army’s Emergency Response in the North East, said a team of three volunteers arrived on the scene of the fire just after 5pm and left at 10.30pm on Tuesday. 

He said: “We were there to support up to 45 firefighters as they worked under immense pressure into the night to ensure people were kept safe. 

“A big thank you to our volunteers who were on hand to serve food and drinks, offer a friendly face and someone for 999 workers to talk to as part of our pastoral support.” 

The Emergency Vehicle is one of twenty-seven similar vehicles that the church and charity has up and down the country to support several other blue light organisations. It recently renewed its welfare partnership with Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service via a Memorandum of Understanding which ensures the welfare of firefighters and crews working on the ground at such incidents are in safe hands with The Salvation Army providing onsite food and drinks and emotional support.