Campaign launched for new Devonport Fire Station

Plymouth MP Luke Pollard has joined forces with firefighters to launch a campaign calling for a new fire station in Devonport, after branding the existing Camels Head Fire Station as being in “a shameful state for our firefighters”.

The station, built more than 60 years ago, has fallen into disrepair with structural damage, heating failures, and conditions so poor that firefighters are forced to sleep in pods. It is staffed 24 hours a day and covers a vast area, including Barne Barton, Mount Wise, Keyham, Ernesettle and the strategically vital Devonport Dockyard.

Today, Mr Pollard convened a roundtable of stakeholders – including Devon and Somerset Fire Service and the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) – who agreed on a proposal for a new station in Devonport. The plans will now be presented to the government.

Luke Pollard, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport, said: “Camels Head Fire Station is in a shameful state for our firefighters. Today I’m launching a campaign to provide a brand new fire station for our firefighters in Devonport.
“Devonport fire station protected the dockyard during the Second World War. I’m calling for a new station there to keep communities in the west of Plymouth well-served.”

Camels Head station is steeped in history. During the Second World War, Plymouth was one of the most heavily bombed cities in Britain outside London. The Devonport Dockyard, a prime target for the Luftwaffe, endured sustained raids during the Blitz of 1941, which destroyed large parts of the city and killed more than 1,000 people. Firefighters at Camels Head played a frontline role in defending the dockyard, tackling fires caused by incendiary bombs and keeping naval operations going during some of Plymouth’s darkest hours.

Despite this proud legacy, the station has long been considered outdated. In recent years, Devon and Somerset Fire Service carried out a public consultation on whether to refurbish the site or close it altogether, moving crews to Crownhill. That proposal was met with strong opposition from firefighters and residents, who argued that response times and community safety would be compromised.

Chief Fire Officer Gavin Ellis acknowledged the importance of the station to local people. He said:
“We recognise the pride that people in the community have in their local services and how much value they put in their fire stations.
We want to improve our estate in Plymouth so we can provide better, sustainable facilities for our colleagues to support communities now and in the future.”

The FBU, which has consistently campaigned for improved facilities for Plymouth firefighters, welcomed the new push. Brigade chair for Devon and Somerset, Alex Smith, said: “The FBU are committed to supporting the rebuild of Camels Head Fire Station.
We have been working with our members at the station branch, MPs, Councillors, and the service in a bid to secure funding, and to get the commitment pushed forward for a new facility suitable for the community it serves, and for the safe and modern working environment of the watches based there.
“Camels Head are a proud branch, highly committed to the communities within their response ground and dedicated to Plymouth alongside neighbouring crews in the city.”

The campaign comes amid growing concern over the resilience of fire services nationwide. The National Fire Chiefs Council has warned that ageing fire stations across the UK are in urgent need of modernisation to meet safety standards and provide appropriate facilities for today’s workforce.

With Plymouth’s growing population and the continuing strategic importance of Devonport Dockyard, campaigners say securing a replacement for Camels Head is now not only a matter of public safety but also about honouring the legacy of a station that helped protect the city during the Blitz.