A brand new fire appliance for Narberth has been dedicated at a ceremony in the town.

The £290,000 vehicle replaces the station’s previous 15-year-old appliance.

It was blessed by Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services (MAWWFRS) chaplain, Rev Illtyd Protheroe, before the keys were presented to watch manager Paul Morris by the chief fire officer (CFO), Chris Davies.

It was a proud occasion for Narberth’s county councillor, Wynne Evans, who is currently chair of both Pembrokeshire County Council and the fire authority.

He said: “This investment in new firefighting equipment will ensure that our firefighters have the best possible resources to protect the community of Narberth, who can feel justifiably proud of their firefighters and the service they provide.”

In the last five years, the Narberth crew have attended 96 house fires and 102 road traffic collisions and also responded to 793 medical emergency calls in co-responder vehicles.

Said CFO Davies: “That this is delivered for just 13p per person per day is testament to the dedication and commitment of the on-call crews present at this dedication ceremony.”

He spoke of the service’s pride in overcoming some of the challenges of the current financial climate, with £7.5 billion saved since 2005, representing nearly 17 per cent of the budget.

Much of this was achieved by working collaboratively - with £60,000 alone saved on the new Narberth appliance as it was purchased under an all-Wales contract.

He added: “A well-equipped, well-trained and well-motivated fire and rescue service is essential to ensuring the continuing safety of the communities we live in.

“We invest in our fleet of vehicles and equipment so that our firefighters have the best resources available to them to deal with emergencies, protecting themselves and the communities they serve."