A set of 6 stamps depicting the various duties and activities undertaken by the country's Fire & Rescue Services personnel.
In recent years changes in the environment have placed greater demands on the fire service. During widespread flooding in 2007, fire crews rescued over 9,000 people as more than 55,000 homes and businesses were flooded, and with around 5 million people thought to be living in flood-risk areas, the threat of severe flooding remains.
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Set of 6 stamps: 1st - firefighting 54p Chemical Fire 56p Emergency Rescue 62p Flood Rescue 81p Search & Rescue 90p Fire Safety |
1st Class – Firefighting The firefighters of the UK’s 58 Fire and Rescue Authorities are well trained in tackling the types of incidents described below – but it wasn’t always the case. There has been evidence of organised firefighting in Britain since the Roman invasion of AD 43, but it took the Great Fire of London in1666 to move things forward. Insurance companies offering the first type of fire cover were formed, enabling citizens to pay to protect their home or business in the unfortunate event of a fire. The same firms also established private fire brigades specifically to respond to emergency calls from their policy-holders. Nine years after the Edinburgh Fire Engine Establishment was created in 1824, several London insurance companies merged to set up the first London fire brigade, laying the foundations for the modern fire service. Modern day firefighters working for the UK’s Fire and Rescue Services are primed and ready to deal with a wide range of emergencies. Every shout is different from the last – from house fires caused by faulty electrical appliances or out-of-control barbecues to warehouse blazes, factory fires or arson attacks.
54p – Chemical
Fire
Most of Britain’s Fire and Rescue Services have at least one
chemical incident unit whose firefighters have been trained to deal
with emergencies involving hazardous materials. Key roles
include the containment of spillages, decontamination and environmental
protection. Specialist apparatus, which varies between units,
includes: radiation-monitoring equipment, chemical containment and
absorption materials, leak-sealing equipment, foam concentrate, pumps
for pumping up industrial chemicals, and drain blockers.
56p – Emergency
Rescue
According to figures for 2007 released by the Department for Transport,
there were a total of 182,115 road accidents involving personal injury,
of which 27,036 involved death or serious injury. First on the scene of
many road traffic accidents are members of the Fire and Rescue Service.
In addition to putting out vehicle fires, the fire crew must
ensure that the surrounding area is made safe and the spillage of any
hazardous substance is contained. In more serious collisions,
firefighters are involved in freeing individuals trapped in the
wreckage.
62p – Flood
Rescue
According to the Environment Agency, around 5million people in England
and Wales now live in flood risk areas, and with the UK’s
weather becoming evermore extreme, the nation’s Fire and
Rescue Services now play a key role in responding to flood-related
emergencies. In summer 2007, widespread flooding placed
great demands on the fire service. More than 55,000 homes and
businesses were flooded, with over 9,000 people rescued. In terms of
scale, the Fire Brigades Union described the rescue effort as
‘the biggest in peacetime Britain’.
81p – Search and
Rescue
Firefighters with training in urban search and rescue (USAR) techniques
use specialist equipment to lift, cut away and remove debris from
collapsed buildings and damaged vehicles to make the area safe enough
to search for casualties trapped inside. Members of each
USAR unit are trained to use a range of specialist apparatus, including
listening devices, communication probes, technical search cameras,
cutting, drilling and breaking tools, heavy-capacity airbags, and
propping and shoring equipment. Specially adapted vehicles are also
used in USAR work.
90p – Fire Safety
Fire authorities across the UK have a long tradition of maintaining
vital links within their local communities. From school visits and fire
prevention talks to safety checks and smoke alarm tests in the home,
local fire services play an important role in community life.
In 2002 the London Fire Brigade established Local
Intervention Fire Education (LIFE) – an intensive five-day
course that enables young people to learn a range of skills, including
handson firefighting, first aid and fire prevention. LIFE has since
been adopted by a number of regional fire services.
Mint set
Royal Mail FDCs
Presentation Pack
Set of 6 Stamp Cards
Special
Postmarks
Postmarks available for the day of issue are shown here, others will be
added later. These are
not to scale. These
postmarks cannot
be obtained after the date of issue.
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| Ref FD923 Philatelic Bureau Official Postmark illustrated with life-saving equipment. |
Ref FD804 Hose, Melton Mowbray, official postmark illustrated with a coiled fire hose |
Ref FD804NP Hose Official non-pictorial Postmark |
Ref W11447 Fire and Rescue Services, Chester, Cheshire |
Ref M11443 Fire & Rescue Service, Fire Staton Road, Birmingham |
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| Ref L11440 70th Anniv of the Auxiliary Fire Sevice, London EC1 |
Ref L11441 FIRE Bell Lane, Surbiton |
Ref M11442 Hose, Melton Mowbray |
Ref N11461 Engine Lane, Liverpool (GBFDC Association) |
Ref N11462 The British Fire Services Association, Sleaford, Lincolnshire |
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| Ref M11457 Fire and Rescue, Wolverhampton |
Ref L11465 Union Street, London SE1 |
Ref L11466 70th Ann of the Auxiliary Fire Service |
Ref M11486 Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire (location of Fire Services College) | Note:
These last three handstamps were announced after the stamps were
issued. If you would like a cover with one of these handstamps please order by 11 September |
This page updated 8 September 2009
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