The service was created in 1948 under the Fire Services Act 1947 and it was then called Warwick County Fire Brigade. However, in 2004, under the Fire and Rescue Services Act, it changed its name into Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service to better reflect the current responsibilities the service has.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service of Warwickshire in West Midlands of England. The administration of the service is run by Warwickshire County Council. It has a total population of 512,700 residing in an approximate area of 1,975.33 kilometers square.
Last November 2 2007, there was a huge fire at a vegetable packing plant owned by Wealmor Ltd. This mobilized 100 firefighters and 5 ambulance crews in the scene and there were 16 fire engines used to kill the fire. This event had caused the death of 4 firefighters: 1 of them died in the hospital while the bodies of the remaining 3 were found from the debris. Recently in February, 2 Watch Managers and 1 Station manager were charged manslaughter by gross negligence and the County Council as well faces a charge of failing to ensure safety at work.
The service has 19 operational fire stations installed around the county, 4 of which are operating full-time which means that they are open 24 hours daily. The stations are in Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Rugby, and at Stratford-Upon-Avon. For stations operating only during daytime, they are installed in Atherstone, Bedworth and in Coleshill. And for retained duty system stations, they are in Alcester, Bidford on Avon, Brinklow, Fenny Compton, Henley in Arden, Kenilworth, Polesworth, Shipston-on-Stour, Southam, Studley, Warwick, and in Wellesbourne. The headquarters is in Leamington Spa and is headed by Chief Fire Officer Graeme Smith and Deputy Chief Fire Officer Gary Phillips.
