Firefighters are to give backup to overstretched paramedics and ambulance staff during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

The South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust has invested in 15 ambulances that will be ‘dual-crewed’ with members of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service.

Two of these will be based in in Cornwall, with the remainder spread between Devon, Somerset, Dorset & Wiltshire, Avon and Gloucestershire fire and rescue services.

They will be crewed by on-call firefighters who are trained in blue light driving, accompanied by the ambulance service's own medics.

The vehicles will be operational 24 hours a day in two 12-hour shifts, seven days a week, for six weeks.

Training has been carried out by firefighters this week, which has included use of equipment, moving and handling patients, emergency equipment, PPE and driving familiarisation, ready for the ambulances to get out into service

Under the plans there will be two ambulances which will be based in Launceston and Newquay.

They will be driven by a firefighter who will be accompanied by an ambulance medic.

The ambulances will be attending lower category incidents but may go to more serious incidents if required or are in close proximity.

Both ambulances are fleet vehicles and are part of plans which South Western Ambulance Service Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is rolling out across the region.

It will be the first time that firefighters have driven ambulances in Cornwall, but similar schemes are already in place elsewhere in the country.

Martyn Addinall, fire station manager at Tolvaddon, said it was a good example of emergency services working together.

“They will be going to the bread and butter cases,” he said. “They will be driving but they may also have to assist where necessary.

“If the situation (with Covid-19) gets worse then they may have to attend higher category incidents.”

Martyn explained that all firefighters are trained in first aid and have experience of high-pressure incidents so would be well equipped to work alongside ambulance colleagues.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has also been helping with distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to care workers during the crisis.

Local businesses have been offering supplies of PPE which have been delivered by the fire service to those that need it.