Defence Fire Service

[Nathan]

I don't know if this is really in the right are but i'll ask anyway. Does anybody know why it is that the American Air Force provide the fire cover at RAF Croughton but they don't provide it at RAF Menwith Hill. Menwith Hill is covered by the DFS.

It just seems strange that the Amreicans cover RAF Croughton, RAF Welford, RAF Lakenheath and Mildenhall but they dont cover Menwith Hill as it is supposedly an American base.

[John Webb]

Just a thought, but could it be because Menwith Hill is only fixed installations without any aircraft flights? I don't know the details of some of the other places you mention, but I recognise a couple as being active airfields. Or because part of Menwith Hill is Naval and not just RAF?

[Ashley Wood]

As with Johns answer I think you will find operational (As in 'flying') makes a difference as does what goes on at a particular location. I know of several other US sites in the UK that would not let any person other than a US serviceman near the place let alone a UK fire-fighter. At some of the remote locations UK fire-fighters have to wait outside the base!

[paul]

I was a Fireman in the RAF for 17 years and then transfered to the DFS. I was at RAF Bases run by the USAF for my last 6 years until medical retired. I was at Lakenheath which is a mixture of DFS and US servicemen along with Mildenhall. I was also at Alconbury/Molesworth for a number of years where there is Five US Civilian Firefighters and in excess of 90 DFS Firefighters. Menwith Hill is the same as Alconbury/Molesworth but with less firefighters. You are right about the aircraft and that is why there is a bigger mix of servicemen to DFS Firefighters.
I had a great time over the 23 years I served and gained a lot of experience.

[Cut Fire Service Pay]

RAF Croughton Fire Dept is manned by DFS. They have a US fire chief and three assitant chiefs for operations & training. Each watch has 10 DFS firefighters who man US vehicles. 2 pumpers & 1 rescue truck. It has been this way since 1995 when the last of the US firefighting GIs were replaced by DFS.

Menwith hill, Welford, Fairford, are also DFS.

Lakenheath, Alconbury & Mildenhall are a mixture of US & DFS. All of these are superb stations to be lucky enough to work at as the US realy looks after its firefighters and those working for them. Jobs are few and far between as most ffs who go there don't want to leave!!

Hope this clears it up for you.

[Mr. P]

If you are interested...

Visiting forces - military - uniformed numbers are limited to each 'theatre' of friendly occupation.  Therefore in UK & EU as a whole, maximum numbers are agreed.  Depending on the operational roles of units, other home nation civilians may be brought in.  Sometimes host nation civilians are employed. Costs of keeping people overseas can be great.  Each nation is always considering costs (oops sorry getting too political). In the above cases discussed, the USAF has moved to contract via UK MoD for Ff's and other trades persons.  This gives them a 'one stop shop' only then dealing with UK MoD and letting MoD worry about running around getting the 'goods'.  Over the years changes in numbers of ratios of military/US civ/UK civ have taken place. A staus quo has been retained over the past 15 years, with the odd change such as a higher profile interest at Menwith Hill (and the US wanting more direct hands on control).  Utilising DFRS (they have been newly re-named too!) allows the USAF to deploy their military and US civ's to other 'hot spots' as and when, leaving DFRS to cover.  (As an aside, the DFRS also deploy civilians to 'hot spots' such as Iraq, Kosovo & Bosnia - going 'in' with the first waves of military, digging their own holes and putting up tents (if they have been given them) and coming under fire!
It seems the MoD fire service, DFRS - Defence Fire & Rescue Service - is now recognised as a F&RS in it's own right, and has/will have enforcement powers as uch as any other LAF&RS.
Amazing and interesting, some things you find out over a few bevvies.

[Nathan]

Ok thanks everybody, that makes sense, suprising what you can find out if you ask.

[cbfire999]

Mr P

You mention that the DFRS go to "hot spots" around the world.  What are the financial rewards for this type of work or do the DFRS do it for the love of the job?

[bignorman]

Mr P

You mention that the DFRS go to "hot spots" around the world.  What are the financial rewards for this type of work or do the DFRS do it for the love of the job?

As with any civilian contractor that "volunteers" to visit hot spots for a 3 or 6 month period do go for the financial incentives........ I'm ex DFRS and have done the rounds to Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq and being totally honest I went for the money, wouldnt you if you were lucky enough to have the opportunity?? (Many lads I know that have done a few tours no longer have a mortgage, most of them under 30!)

I have since transfered to LA as I have given my family a sound financial future and no longer wish to travel for long period of time..

[cbfire999]

Norm

Fair play to you.  Who would'nt take the financial rewards, after all you have earn't it by putting your life on the line.  Just being cheeky, how much would it be worth to do, say a six month tour in Iraq?  You hear figures bantered about but never seem to get the truth.  Would it be worth joining the dfs, dont they work closely with the RAF?