Preseli Pembrokeshire Stephen Crabb MP visited Haverfordwest Fire Station on Friday 12th January to meet with crews from one of Pembrokeshire’s important emergency services. Many of the crew had been involved in fighting the two major fires that have taken place Pembrokeshire in the first few weeks of the 2024 – the blaze at the Waterston Industrial Site and the fire at the Duke of Edinburgh in Newgale.
He started his visit to the Fire Station by hearing about all the prevention action undertaken by the Fire Service. As part of a strategy to reduce the risk of emergencies, the fire service perform property fire safety checks and alarm checks as well as installing smoke alarms and helping people to plan escape routes.
During his visit Stephen Crabb MP was able to witness an emergency call at the station and saw the crew respond to planning and preparing in an emergency situation before departing in the fire engine to Milford Haven.
Stephen was impressed to hear about the breadth of the training that is undertaken at the station from boat handling to road traffic incidents. Stephen was also interested to hear about the work undertaken around the management of wildfires and flooding in the county. Stephen was fascinated to hear about the different career paths of the Haverfordwest team and how well the full-time and retained crews work together to respond to emergency situations right across the county.
Sadly, one of the most common emergencies in Pembrokeshire is road traffic accidents and Stephen was able to learn more about how these emergencies are responded to and the equipment that is used.
Stephen came away with a better understanding of how the Fire Service operates both in emergencies but also in teaching fire safety to local people. Stephen hopes to meet more emergency service members such as the St John's Ambulance, Coastguard and Welsh Ambulance Service Trust to hear about the work they do to keep our communities safe in Pembrokeshire.
Commenting, Stephen Crabb MP, said:
"I thank the Mid and West Wales Fire Service not only for their work but for taking the time to show me how much they do, and how they keep the people of Pembrokeshire safe day and night.”
"To hear some of the stories and get a better understanding of how they not only fight fire but engage directly with local people is both fascinating and reassuring.”