MORE of the county’s fire stations could become home to specially-trained co-responders, who will attend emergencies to treat casualties until ambulance crews arrive.

Dorset Fire Authority has agreed to expand its co-responder scheme, currently operating in partnership with South West Ambulance Trust out of Beaminster and Lyme Regis fire stations.

Dorset Fire & Rescue Service is looking to roll the project out to more fire stations, which could include Swanage, Wareham, Wimborn and Bere Regis.

County fire chief Darran Gunter said: “I am very pleased that fire authority members have agreed to expand this partner-ship with South West Ambul-ance. The emphasis here really is on the word co-responder.

“The scheme does not involve firefighters attending incidents on behalf of the ambulance service, but in areas where we can reach a casualty and maintain a life until a paramedic arrives.”

The scheme involves operat-ional firefighters, who have received enhanced medical training, attending medically life-threatening incidents.

Co-responders will be called out when it is believed they would arrive before paramedics at an emergency situation. Paramedics will still attend emergencies and take over once on scene.

Mr Gunter said: “This really is a lifesaving partnership. DFRS staff are provided with extra skills which can be transferred to our own incidents. It also gives potential on-call firefighter recruits another way to serve their local community and make them safe.”

Dorset Fire Authority chair-man Cllr Rebecca Knox said she was delighted the extension of the co-responder scheme had been backed.

“Living in rural Dorset I know from experience how communities value the scheme and what a difference it can make.”