Fire Emergency Support Service (FESS)

The FESS partnership is an agreement between Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and British Red Cross.

Its aim is to assist families, individuals and members of the Emergency Services to cope with the disaster of domestic fire, flood or road traffic collisions and where appropriate, to enable them, through immediate support, to return to normal life as soon as possible.

This support includes:

• immediate temporary shelter in the FESS vehicle
• assistance in seeking temporary accommodation
• first aid and emotional support
• sign-posting to other organisations
• support with the care of children and pets
• use of shower and toilet facilities
• clothing, toiletries and light refreshments
• use of a telephone and camera to assist with insurance claims

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue provide indoor locations at Station 20 South Lincoln and Station 30 Skegness for the housing of the FESS vehicles and equipment. We also provide the FESS team with mobilising data, communication equipment and some consumable items. Training is provided for new members of FESS staff to enable them to operate safely at operational incidents.

The British Red Cross provides a crew of at least 2 suitably trained personnel, available 24/7, to the Fire Emergency Support Service Team to enable the partnership to deliver this service within a 90 minute response time.

The British Red Cross provide the FESS vehicles and also make these available for incidents to support the welfare of emergency service personnel where appropriate.

The British Red Cross can also refer members of the public that may benefit from a Home Fire Safety Check to Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.

For more information about the services offered by the British Red Cross including First aid training, the loan of wheelchairs and medical aids and transport services, etc., see Websites tab.