At the recent public meeting about the fire service someone asked how the fire brigade gets to difficult-to-reach areas. West Sussex Fire & Rescue has responded as follows:

In response to your question on access to ‘difficult to reach’ areas I would reassure the Parish Council that most buildings or structures (which could involve a potential life risk) are generally accessible by road or hard-standing track so we should be able to get a fire engine to the scene. However we also have a number of 4×4 vehicles which are designed for off-road capability. These carry a small water tank and have a crew cab that can carry five firefighters. We can also utilise the space in the rear compartment to transport additional equipment if needed and a standard fire engine is unable to get there. These vehicles are particularly useful in rural areas, or in times of inclement weather such as flooding, snow or ice. We are however currently reviewing the capability of these 4x4s and looking to improve their operational use and capability still further.

The Parish Council would advise anybody who is concerned that a regular emergency vehicle will not be able to access your property, please try to mention this when making your 999 call and ask for a vehicle suitable for rural areas.

Andrea Dickson, Clerk to Fulking Parish Council
01444 451 060 / andreadicksonfpc@gmail.com