The only UK volunteer response team attending live fire incidents marks milestone
Iain Hoey
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Kent Fire and Rescue Service marks ten years of volunteer response support
Volunteer Response Team celebrates decade of service
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is marking ten years of its Volunteer Response Team (VRT), a group that supports crews and communities at emergency incidents.
The VRT is the only team of its kind in any UK fire and rescue service to attend live incidents alongside operational firefighters.
Launched in 2015, the team provides both practical and emotional support to people affected by emergencies across Kent and Medway.
KFRS said the volunteers give up their time day and night, all year round, to help people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
More than 2,100 people supported in five years
According to KFRS, the team has supported more than 2,100 people at emergency scenes in the last five years alone.
The volunteers assist individuals and families immediately after fires and other incidents, helping them access essential resources and information.
Their support includes arranging alternative accommodation, helping with insurance claims and sourcing essential items such as mobile phones.
Volunteers also liaise with local authorities and other agencies to ensure continued support after the incident.
The team provides welfare facilities for firefighters during long or complex incidents, ensuring crews can rest, eat and stay hydrated.
Local resident shares personal experience
Dover resident Liz McConnell received support from the VRT after a fire at her family’s home on 11 September.
She said: “The volunteers were amazing. They comforted and reminded us that we were ok, safe and unhurt.
“They made sure we had phone chargers, as we had a lot of calls to make and contacted our insurance company to get the process started, as well as keeping us informed about the fire.
“They also arranged for the Red Cross to provide clothes for us and the kids, toiletries too – a lot of things I hadn’t even considered. I don’t know what we’d have done without them.”
Chief Executive praises volunteers’ impact
Ann Millington, Chief Executive of KFRS, said: “Our Volunteer Response Team is nothing short of remarkable.
“These individuals give their time freely, day or night, to bring compassion and vital practical support for those having their worst days.
“The impact they have – not just on the people affected by emergencies, but also on our own firefighters – is profound.
“We are proud to be the only fire and rescue service in the UK with a volunteer team attending live incidents in this way – and even prouder of the people who make it happen.”
Relevance for fire and safety professionals
The Kent Fire and Rescue Service Volunteer Response Team model demonstrates how non-operational volunteers can integrate into live emergency operations.
This approach provides additional on-scene capacity for supporting affected residents and assisting operational crews.
Fire and rescue leaders and local authority emergency planners may find the model relevant when considering community resilience frameworks or volunteer engagement strategies.
It also highlights how coordinated welfare provision for firefighters can reduce fatigue during prolonged incidents.
For professionals involved in incident management or public recovery planning, the VRT offers an example of structured volunteer integration alongside core emergency response.
Kent Fire and Rescue Service marks ten years of volunteer response support: Summary
Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) is celebrating ten years of its Volunteer Response Team (VRT), established in 2015 to support people during emergencies.
The VRT is the only volunteer group in a UK fire and rescue service that attends live incidents alongside firefighters.
In the past five years, the team has supported more than 2,100 people across Kent and Medway.
Volunteers provide emotional support and practical help, such as arranging accommodation, insurance contact and essential items.
They also organise welfare facilities for firefighters during lengthy or complex incidents.
Chief Executive Ann Millington said the team’s work has a major impact on both affected communities and KFRS crews.
This article contains information from the following source: Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS)