Yorkshire Firefighters, a new BBC Two series commissioned by BBC England, will light up viewers’ television screens this summer.
This unique four-part series takes us onto the frontline with the men and women keeping their communities safe during the pandemic. It’s a rare chance to go behind the scenes with this inspirational band of West Yorkshire firefighters.
Filmed using the latest technology, viewers will be brought closer than ever before to real-life emergencies, seeing inside burning buildings and getting to the heart of the action.
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has 900 firefighters with a diverse range of personnel dedicated to serving a population of more than two million people – often in remote, highly dangerous and life-threatening situations.
Aisling O’Connor, Head of TV Commissioning for BBC England, said: “This series captures the lives of these brilliant firefighters, and highlights their dedication and determination to keeping people safe especially during a national emergency.”
Each episode shows the men and women behind the visors as they help communities during last winter, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
From bringing under control one of the biggest fires seen in Bradford in decades, to helping vulnerable people at home, expect drama, jeopardy, hair-raising moments and firefighters working day and night to be the best at what they do, with plenty of Yorkshire warmth and humour along the way too.
Mark Robinson, Creative Director at Wise Owl Films, said: “It was a real privilege to follow West Yorkshire’s firefighters during a difficult winter and a global pandemic and to see their role at the heart of the community, the same communities many come from themselves.
“Not only will viewers get to see footage, captured by helmet cameras, that plunges them into the heart of very dangerous scenarios, they will also see day-to-day life within the stations, behind closed doors.”
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority is an independent body with a legal duty to provide a fire and rescue service that meets the needs of local communities. It also has responsibilities regarding the enforcement of fire prevention, petroleum and explosives legislation.
The authority is made up of 22 people who are appointed annually by the county’s five district councils: Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Wakefield and Calderdale.
It has been a pioneer in developing many of the community fire safety programmes which now lie at the heart of the national drive towards fire service modernisation. It is committed to a huge expansion of this type of work in the future.
The authority serves a population of more than two million spread over an area of almost 800 square miles. Fire cover is provided 24-hours per day, every day of the year.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Dave Walton, said: “We are hugely excited and proud to feature in Yorkshire Firefighters which showcases the skills and expertise of the modern-day Fire and Rescue Service. The programme offers a rare glimpse into the daily lives of Firefighters and our Control Room staff.
“Our teams work tirelessly around the clock to save lives whether that be as a consequence of fires, road traffic collisions, water rescues or a whole range of other types of technical rescues, and we’re excited for viewers to see what it really takes to be a Yorkshire Firefighter.”
Yorkshire Firefighters has been produced for BBC Two by Wise Owl Films, the Leeds-based factual label of Lime Pictures. The first episode airs on 29 July at 8 pm. It will then run weekly every Thursday after that for three more weeks. If you miss it you can catch up via the BBC iPlayer.
Images: Rob Brooks – BBC.
