The Fire Station has been in Bardfield Road for approximately 55/60 years. Prior to this, it was next to the Rose and Crown pub, and before that, next to the Church.

It has always been a retained station and is served by local people working to help keep safe the very large area which it covers, eg. Thaxted, Lindsell, Broxted, Wimbish, Debden Green, Little Sampford, Great Sampford, Little Bardfield, Oxen End, Sibleys Green and Monk Street, Tilty, Hempstead and Helions Bumpstead.

The Fire Service changed some years ago from Essex Fire Brigade to Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. This covers the fact that its work now extends to rescues as well as fires. It now deals each year with road traffic accidents and people stuck in houses; from horses stuck in rivers to people stuck in floods. It is a changing world for

the Fire Service and the calls each year are on the increase. The Service also fits smoke alarms free to people that need them, and raises significant sums each year for charity.

Crew:

Stuart Parkin, Gary Holt, Phillip Wright, Paul McKeown, Wayne Morris, Matt Goullee, John Fletcher, Ian Ship, Rob Beedle, David Prentice, Sarah Solheim, Scott Sanford.

[All of the above, apart from Rob Beedle and Scott Sanford, live in Thaxted, but they both work in the town].

Remember - in an emergency dial 999 and ask for the Fire Service.