Airfield fire fighters raising funds for improved station

Airfield Volunteer Fire Service took part in a Fun Run wearing all of their apparatus

The Airfield Volunteer Fire Service based at the Shuttleworth Collection is currently using a hangar as its old station which was built 15 years ago is in need of replacement.

The voluntary organisation and registered charity is funded purely through fundraising as well as charging to provide fire cover and first aid at air shows and other events throughout Chronicle Country and beyond.

Fire fighter Kerry Hyde said: “Our current fire station, funded and constructed by our members back in 1999, has deteriorated over the years and is in desperate need of replacing.

“The Shuttleworth Collection have provided us with a new building to replace this with, which currently is simply just an empty hangar and needs a vast amount of work doing to it to make it fit for purpose as a functioning fire station.

“Until we raise this money and improve this building we can’t use it as a fire station, it’s as simple as that.”

It is a huge fundraising task for the organisation and they are chipping away at the required total little by little. As a part of this, five members took part in the ‘Big Fun Run’ in Milton Keynes wearing their fire kit and breathing apparatus sets.

They each completed the 5km course in under an hour with some running and some walking the course.

Kerry is determined to raise the money needed for the new hangar as she thoroughly enjoys her job.

She said: “Being a fire fighter is fantastic. Although it’s not all running into burning buildings, or burning planes in our case like some are led to believe, there are still loads of really rewarding aspects to the job.”

To help the Airfield Volunteer Fire Service you can donate by text. Simply text FIRE09 £2, £5 or £10 to 70070.

You can also visit www.avfs.org for more information on the appeal and there is also a brochure available to download.

Also on the website is information for anyone who would like to join the organisation. All pre-season training takes place from January onwards so there is a big recruitment push at the moment.

The voluntary group are specifically in need of operational fire fighters.