Fire crew returns to base

Tuesday 26 May 2020

All of Guernsey's fire fighters are based at the Fire Station again after the standby base set up for them at Beau Sejour to mitigate the risk of covid-19 was closed.

The decision was made to put all crews back together now the risk of catching the potentially fatal virus has been almost eliminated locally.

Half of the Fire and Rescue Service crew members had been based at Beau Sejour since 30 March, when the decision was made to split the service to ensure the virus couldn't risk incapacitating an entire shift.

With just one active case remaining and no new positive test results for 26 days, the decision was made to move them all back to base from today. 

Pictured: All of Guernsey's fire crews are now based at the Arsenal together. 

With the island moving into Phase 4 of the lockdown exit strategy from Saturday, Chief Fire Officer Jon Le Page said it is clear the risk the community is facing is now different to what it had been in March. But he said they will split the service again if they need to.

“The Guernsey Together community spirit has seen everyone doing their bit to flatten the curve. The decision to split the shifts was taken at the beginning of lockdown, and now with a gradual return to normality, it’s right to re-look at that decision and we have decided that, as is normal, the Fire Station will be the base for our crews. We will of course be following the strict hygiene and cleaning required by Public Health, as well as following social distancing. This reduces any risk.

“I want to thank Beau Sejour for allowing us to use it as a temporary base, so we could adjust to the lockdown and ensure we maintained our full capabilities.”

Beau Séjour has been closed to the public since Sunday 22 March, just days before Guernsey went into lockdown. The centre remains closed but is likely to partially reopen over the coming weeks.

All gyms and leisure facilities are able to reopen from Saturday under the lockdown exit strategy guidance issued by the States, but there will be "restrictions on the size, nature and duration of activities". Most contact sports are not allowed to resume until Phase 5.

Pictured top: There's been a fire engine and half of the on shift crew based at Beau Sejour for nearly two months.