News
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THREAT OF FIRE STATION CLOSURES (26/12)
The FBU has made public through social media that it is aware that the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Authority is seriously proposing the closure of 8 of its fire stations. The stations under threat have yet to be named. The FBU is campaigning against closures but the likelihood is that the stations most likely to close are those where the fire authority has failed to keep them staffed and on the run for the majority of the time and therefore the loss of the resource will have little real impact on the situation as it exists at the moment.
EXPLOSION ROCKS WILTSHIRE “MILITARY FACTORY” (12/12)
On Thursday 11th December 2025 a factory operated by Chemring at Netton, near Salisbury was the scene of an explosion that brought fire crews from Salisbury and Amesbury making an emergency response. The site is described by press reports as a “military factory” and the company is known to be involved in the manufacture of munitions and other explosives. Police in large numbers also responded. There are no reports of casualties so far.
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CFO PETER RICKARD UNDER INVESTIGATION (26/11)
It has become public knowledge that Chief Fire Officer Peter Rickard has been suspended while an independent investigation is carried out into a complaint that has been made against him. Peter was appointed CFO of Cleveland Fire & Rescue Service in 2024. Details of the complaint are not being released at this time.
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LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER (25/11)
We have all come to admire Yve Benwell for amongst other things her list of charity fund raising ventures that got her adrenaline flowing. It seems that her daughter, Michelle, follows in Yve’s footsteps because she very recently undertook a sponsored parachute jump from 15,000 ft to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity. So far over £600.00 has been raised but the even better news is that you can still contribute. Just get in touch with Yve and she will channel your donation to Michelle’s total raised.
It is touching to note that Michelle and Yve are grieving for the recent loss of Len Benwell and Michelle is doing the fund raising in his memory.
SUSPENDED CFO RESIGNS (25/11)
MARTIN BLUNDEN, the Chief Fire Officer of Scottish Fire & Rescue Service has resigned. A complaint of misconduct was made against him and he has been suspended since March. No further details of the complaint or the alleged misconduct have been made public.
GOOD NEWS! (05/11)
By recent decision of the WRFA Executive Committee members who require to bring a carer to accompany them to a WRFA social event can claim any subsidy on offer for the carer’s meal price.
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