Interesting and heartwarming news today:

Firefighters will be able to deliver food and medicines, drive ambulances, and retrieve dead bodies during the coronavirus outbreak in an unprecedented agreement between the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), fire chiefs, and Fire and Rescue Employers.

For the first time, all three stakeholder groups have agreed a joint national approach to the crisis. The fire service organisations say that the measures in the agreement reflect the scale of the national crisis and the urgency of the response required.

Under the agreement, firefighters will be able to:

·         Deliver essential items like food and medicines to vulnerable people

·         Drive ambulances and assist ambulance staff

·         Retrieve dead bodies, should the outbreak cause mass casualties

Firefighters will continue responding to core emergencies, such as fires and road traffic collisions, but under the agreement can now provide additional services specifically related to COVID19. The agreement states that core responsibilities must be maintained throughout the crisis.

The organisations will meet weekly to discuss any additional requests for assistance made by Local Resilience Forums and Strategic Coordination Groups. Any activities considered will be risk assessed with fire and rescue personnel being given any necessary additional training and the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

The additional work taken on by firefighters will be temporary to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially in place for two months, the agreement can be extended or shortened if agreed between all parties.

The agreement between National Employers, the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) and the FBU follows measures to limit cross-infection between firefighters and the public, agreed earlier this week.

There are around 48,000 firefighters and emergency control staff in the UK.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said:

“We face a public health crisis unparalleled in our lifetimes. The coronavirus outbreak is now a humanitarian emergency and firefighters rightly want help their communities.

“To get through this, we must find ways to work together with other emergency services. Firefighters are fantastic at teamwork, are experienced in driving emergency vehicles and, as a service rooted in the community, may be best placed to deliver essential items to the most vulnerable.

“Many fear the loss of life in this outbreak could be overwhelming– and firefighters, who often handle terrible situations and incidents, are ready to step in to assist with body retrieval.

“Firefighters and control staff have always stepped in when the public has been in danger and this crisis is no different. The strain on all emergency services will be great, but we can and will get through it together.”

Roy Wilsher, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council, said:

“All fire services are working to protect communities during COVID-19 and they will use their wide-range of capabilities and skills to ensure community reassurance and support; doing what they can to support people through this crisis.

“This joined-up approach is testament to the three organisations working together, to ensure fire and rescue services can be at the forefront of the response to the current situation. I look forward to continuing this joined-up work with the National Employers and FBU.”

Cllr Nick Chard, Chair of the National Employers, said:

“We have worked at pace to bring an extra resource to the battle against the impact of COVID 19, working collaboratively with the FBU and NFCC for the benefit of local people.”

“Fire and Rescue has always played its role in meeting seemingly insurmountable challenges and this crisis is no exception.  We can immediately step up our assistance to support our over stretched public sector colleagues, especially ambulance services, with our can do attitude and sense of community spirit.”

Dead Man’s Daughter by Roz Watkins   HQ pb £7.99 eBook and audio.

A thriller set in the Peak District, which is of course, beautiful but can be challenging. Just like this book, because a child is involved. I find thrillers involving children ‘on the edge’ of my comfort zone. I think Watkins has pulled it off. Read it, and see what you think.

DI Meg Dalton isn’t prepared for her latest case – a child found running through woods, her nightdress covered in blood. Nearby her father is also found, stabbed, dead.

Just as most would, Dalton thinks of a violent intruder but there are complications. The father was obsessed with odd statues in the woods. Added to this was his obsession with his daughter’s recent heart transplant. Watkins begins to ask herself if the new heart has altered the child? This leads to the big question: who exactly was the donor? How did he/she die? Is there a killer out there? Is the child safe?

Give it a whirl. Watkins first book, The Devil’s Dice was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger Award and is optioned for TV.

Her Last Breath by Alison Belsham   Trapeze pb £8.99

Oh crikey – The body count is rising, the clock is ticking. Is this a classic page turner – a race against time?

When a young woman is attacked, but not quite killed. Can the police find her killer before she dies? What does her tattoo mean?

Then another woman disappears. Is there a serial killer trawling the streets of Brighton?

Detective Francis Sullivan and his team suspect Alex  Mullins, the son of Francis’s lover. Oh lord… What does Francis do? Yep, read it, you will turn the pages.

One Fatal Mistake by Tom Hunt   Orion. pb £8.99

I find this sort of crime far too realistic to read with equanimity. Because … because … Would we all cover up, if our son killed someone in an accident, and ran away from the scene? Joshua Mayo  and his mother do just this – but that never works, does it. Or does it? Will someone find out, if so what will they do? Will the weight and increasing complexity of the deceit ruin them anyway. Read it, and find out.

A knock at the door but no-one there, instead a bottle of wine, and note from a neighbour. ‘Look after yourselves.’

The day before, a knock at the door. No-one there, instead homemade pate, and a note: ‘Thought you’d enjoy this.’

Texts offering shopping as we old ducks are self-isolating as instructed for those of our age. So, thank you, our wonderful neighbours. We have become an end Crescent full of phantoms who knock knock, leave something, and disappear.

Our local cafe now shut, has creatively diversified, and is delivering homemade ready meals. We had one today. Cottage pie, for two. Actually, it will do for four. Just ten pounds, arriving at the door. Knock knock, no-one there, but a lunch, and in a separate paper bag, chopped sausage for the dogs.

As well as foolish people out there, there are many more who are not. Let’s be thankful for them all.

Thank you, Jacqui and Izzie at Bliss Cafe