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Jersey fire service celebrates 75th anniversary

Chris Craddock
BBC Jersey communities reporter
BBC Roger and Logan smile at the camera as they stand in front of a fire engine which is being shown off to the public. Roger is on the left and as a blue jumper on with a white letter H on his chest. Logan is in a firefighter polo T-shirt.BBC
Roger (left) says he is very proud of his son Logan

The States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service (SJFRS) marks 75 years by inviting the public to an open day.

The service replaced the St Helier Fire Brigade in 1950.

Roger le Flem, whose son is a firefighter, was among those that attended the headquarters on Saturday and watched rescue demonstrations and visited stalls about the service's work.

He said his son, Logan, was "just incredible" after he watched him take part in a demonstration marking the anniversary.

Logan is in a harness infront of a window as he is being lowered down. He is holding onto the casualty. Logan is in a red jumpsuit while the casualty is in a blue one.
Logan was involved in the rope rescue which is similar to what operations crews carry out on Jersey cliffs

Logan is 21 years old and became a wholetime firefighter in January.

Roger said "to watch him be part of the demonstration was just incredible" but admitted "I'm terrified of heights so it also scares the life out of me".

Logan added: "It's really special to be part of this as I'm new into the service but to see the history the service has been through is really rewarding."

Logan was part of the rope rescue demonstration where he was lowered out of a third floor window to rescue a casualty.

Chief fire officer Paul Brown said: "It's not just 75 years of the States of Jersey Fire and Rescue Service, it's 75 years of being a fundamental part of our community.

"We don't exist for any other reason than to protect the people of Jersey and their interests."

Vicky smiles at the camera as she sits in a chair holding her crutches. Behind he is a fire engine and crowds looking at stalls. She is wearing a pink dress.
Vicky said "they're just amazing people"

Vicky Vasse came along to show her support and admiration for the work firefighters do in the island.

She said "I have so much respect for them" and "they put their lives on the line doing this stuff".

"They're just amazing people," Ms Vasse added.

Beth smiles at the camera while she holds her hands behind her back. She is wearing a navy blue firefighter polo t-shire and has black hair tied into a ponytail. She is in the fire station and behind her firefighters are showing people equipment and their firefighting cloths are hung up on a rail.
Firefighter Beth Bell showed children how to use the fire hose at the anniversary

Beth Bell is one of two on-call female firefighters in the service after she was recruited earlier this year.

She said "it's been amazing" and "it's been a while since we've had one of these so it's good to see children – especially girls – seeing the headquarters".

Ms Bell added: "I think it's amazing the service is bringing in more females as I think it was overlooked in the past but now it's being focused on and everyone has made me feel so welcome."

She hopes she can inspire more women to apply to be a firefighter as the service looks to become more inclusive.

Jersey fire service celebrates 75th anniversary

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