The service was formed in 1974 as a requirement that all counties must have their own fire cover. It was still called Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade but in 2004, the name was changed into Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in accordance with the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004.
The service is the statutory fire and rescue service of Tyne and Wear, England. It is responsible to over 1 million populations who reside in a 540 kilometers square area. It has 17 operational stations of which the main station is located at Barmstone Mere, Washington which is headed by Chief Fire Officer Iain Bathgate. In the 17 fire stations, 15 of which are operating on a wholetime schedule which means that it is open 24 hours daily; there is 1 station operating on a wholetime/part-time schedule; and the remaining stations Is on a retained duty system.
The wholetime fire stations are in Colby Court, Fossway, Fulwell, Gateshead, Gosforth, Hebburn, North Moor, Rainton Bridge, South Shields, Railway Row, Swalwell, Tynemouth, Wallsend, Washington, and West Denton. The retained station is in Chopwell while the wholetime/part-time station is in Birtley.
Furthermore, the service has community fire stations which serve as the meeting place to discuss community safety matters. The main purpose of the community fire stations is to “provide the community with the highest standards of fire safety and firefighting services available.” The service also has a YFA program which stands as Young Firefighters Associations that permits children to experience what it is like to be a firefighter, what work in involved and how effort is needed.
