The recent history of Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service really starts in 1947 when the fire service as we know it today was formed. Prior to that there was the National Fire Service and before that there were various independent services run by volunteers in villages, towns and cities throughout the country. Cumbria Fire Service was formed in 1974 after local government was reorganised. It took in Cumberland Fire Service, Westmorland Fire Service, Carlisle and Barrow Fire Services and parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Cumbria is the second largest county in the UK. In 2005, the service changed its name to Cumbria Fire & Rescue service to reflect the new responsibilities it now has.
Fire Stations/Appliances
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service has split Cumbria into three areas, each containing two of the county's districts, they are:
2013 Volvo FL Enhanced Rescue Pumps: The enhanced rescue pumps combine the normal role of a WrL and a rescue unit. Thus making them slightly larger.
2006 Land Rover Defender Cobra Enabled Vehicle : A modified wildfire Land Rover to contain the Cold Cut Cobra System, which is currently on trial in Barrow.
Incidents of note
8 January 2005 – Carlisle and North Cumbria Floods, the worst flooding in living memory caused massive disruption and damage across the county. More than 3,000 properties were affected, 60,000 homes were without power and some areas of Carlisle were under of water.
5 November 2006 – Over 100 firefighters from across South Cumbria fought a major fire which eventually destroyed two of Barrow's largest superstores.
December 2009 – Dozens of firefighters fight a large blaze in Penrith's Morrisons Supermarket, which resulted in a complete rebuild of the store.
December 2015 – All areas of the county affected by major flooding from Storm Desmond. The worst affected areas were Carlisle, Cockermouth and much of the South Lakes, with thousands of homes/properties being destroyed and major damaged to affected areas.
11 January 2017 – Over 50 firefighters fight a large blaze in the old House of Lords building connected to Bar Continental in Barrow-in-Furness. The fire caused the building to at least partially collapse.
April 2017– a major fire broke out in the SIS Pitches factory in Maryport. Over 100 firefighters attended. This fire caused further structural damage and eventual collapse
