Our Local Fire Service

Red Hill Park Fire Station is the local station for Winton. The building was opened in 1960 and took over from the earlier Winton Fire station in Wimborne Road. The old fire station was opened in 1927 and is currently used as a store house.

See pictures of it on our then and now page and read the history.

Sean Frampton is currently Station manager at Redhill Park fire station.

There are four whole time watches at Redhill that work 24/7. Each watch has eight fire fighters and normally five fire fighters on station at any one time. The others would be working at other stations in Dorset or be on training courses or annual leave.

Currently the fire appliance from the station attends around 1200 incidents per year. These calls cover a whole spectrum from house fires to heath fires and road traffic accidents.

There are three vehicles kept at the station - one frontline appliance that is available 24 hours a day 365 days per year, a spare appliance that is available to replace any that need repair in the county and an operational support vehicle which carries additional equipment and internal deliveries around the county.

The station also has a breathing apparatus training facility, which is used by crews from Redhill and surrounding stations.

Fire Prevention

Responding to emergencies is only a very small part of the service the station offers to the local community. One of the main aims of the fire service is to prevent incidents through partnership working and education.

The Dorset Fire Authority pay for the entrance fees of school children in Dorset who attend the interactive safety centre at streetwise.

In addition to this schools in the Redhill Station area are offered fire safety education talks at Key stages 1 and 2.

Fire fighters from Redhill working in partnership with local schools support these talks.

They also deliver a presentation to 6th form and university students on the public service course at schools and colleges.

The protection of the public in their own homes is a primary concern of the service and in 2008 there was an unprecedented number of fire deaths.

Dorset Fire and Rescue service is committed to reducing this number to Nil. One of the ways of doing this has been able to offer fire safety advice to occupants in their own homes. In many cases occupiers have been provided with smoke detectors as a result of the home fire safety risk check.

These have been supplied and fitted free of charge by the service. The appointment has been made at the occupier's convenience; this has been at anytime and is not restricted to office hours.

Many of the visits took place over the weekends, as the crews are always available (subject to fire calls).

If you are interested in a FREE Home Fire Safety Check please contact 01305 252600 or log on to the website www.dorsetfire.gov.uk

The examples listed above are only a sample of the many initiatives and partnerships that the service is involved in.

If you have a community group that may benefit from a talk on the fire service and home fire safety or you would like to make an appointment to have a home safety risk check, please contact the fire station on 01202 526240, service headquarters on 01305 252600 or log on to the web site where there is also online adivce available..