Sheffield firefighters could be asked to deliver food, drive ambulances and retrieve bodies

Firefighters will continue responding to fires, collisions and other emergencies, but can now provide additional services to help the UK tackle the Covid-19 pandemic as part of an agreement between the Fire Brigades Union, the National Fire Chiefs Council and Fire and Rescue Service National Employers.

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Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “We face a public health crisis unparalleled in our lifetimes. The coronavirus outbreak is now a humanitarian emergency and firefighters rightly want help their communities.

“To get through this, we must find ways to work together with other emergency services. Firefighters are fantastic at teamwork, are experienced in driving emergency vehicles and, as a service rooted in the community, may be best placed to deliver essential items to the most vulnerable.

“Many fear the loss of life in this outbreak could be overwhelming - and firefighters, who often handle terrible situations and incidents, are ready to step in to assist with body retrieval.

“Firefighters and control staff have always stepped in when the public has been in danger and this crisis is no different. The strain on all emergency services will be great, but we can and will get through it together.”

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He said there were be ‘discussions at a local level about what firefighters can do and what firefighters are able to use their skills for and that includes issues like assisting ambulance staff and so on’.

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He added that there is a ‘need to protect core functions’ of the fire service while firefighters may be asked to take on additional roles.

Mr Wrack said: “I think this is a huge challenge across public services and also clearly we need to ensure that firefighters and others are protected in terms of personal protective equipment because no one can do their job if their own safety is compromised.”

In Sheffield, there were 240 confirmed coronavirus cases yesterday as the figure went up by 66 in a single day.

Eight people have now died in the city.