Staff from across Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service will be observing two minutes’ silence at 9am on Thursday 9th September to mark Emergency Services Day.

Also known as 999 Day, this event is a national celebration and commemoration across the UK, held each year on the ninth day of the ninth month. It focuses on all emergency services – not just police, fire and ambulance, but organisations such as NHS community responders, St John Ambulance, the RNLI, volunteer search & rescue teams, and the Coastguard.

The silence at 9am honours all those who have lost their lives as a result of their service to the nation.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole said: “We welcome this national recognition of the work of all emergency services, including the essential work of so many volunteers, and we will be observing the two minutes’ silence at fire stations and other workplaces across our Service.

“Our annual awards ceremony is also being held on 9th September this year, which will be another great opportunity for us to celebrate the work of our staff and acknowledge how we work with partners, both at incidents and in our prevention and protection work“.

The Service will also be supporting the National Fire Chiefs’ Council in observing a minute’s silence on Saturday 11th September, to mark the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. This commemoration will be held at 1.46pm, the time the first tower of the World Trade Center was attacked.

More information about Emergency Services Day can be found here.

Image by DWFRS.