MEMBERS of the local station Chew Magna crew, alongside colleagues from Nailsea Fire Station, were deployed to the Isle of Wight to support crews tackling ongoing wildfires.

They returned home after four days of intense work to support local crews.

Using their specialist High Volume Pump (HVP) skills, the team were helping to keep this vital resource operating around the clock, ensuring a continuous water supply to support firefighting operations in challenging conditions.

The crews laid 3000 metres of hose to provide water for the firefighting operations at both sides of the incident.

Watch manager Morgan at Chew Magna said: “We’re incredibly proud of our firefighters who are assisting alongside colleagues from across the country.

The Chew Magna crew has specialist high volume pump expertise to support large-scale fire-fighting incidents.
The Chew Magna crew has specialist high volume pump expertise to support large-scale fire-fighting incidents. (Chew Firefighters)

“Their specialist training and commitment allow them to support large-scale incidents wherever they’re needed.”

The High Volume Pump is a national asset shared between Chew Magna fire station and Nailsea. The teams can be deployed with the unit anywhere in the UK with it and it is used for large fires or flooding incidents.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue said: “A massive thank you to our Fire and Rescue colleagues from across the South of England who assisted us in providing around the clock support, to ensure water was supplied to the incident all day and all night.”

Chew Magna as a station has been incredibly busy recently too with over 45 fire calls for July in the local service area; most recently for a grass fire on July 29 - a second call of the day.

Watch manager Morgan added: “We would like to thank all the firefighters at Chew Magna for their hard work and dedication including local employers that allow them to respond to incidents whilst at work as without them we wouldn’t have an appliance available when required.”