A SPECIALLY adapted campervan, which provides immediate support to fire and flood victims has moved to a new home, and needs more volunteers to keep the service running smoothly.

The Fire Emergency Support Service (FESS), which has already helped several families in East Lancashire this year, has about 13 active volunteers, but needs more than 20.

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The Lancashire-wide service, which is run by the Red Cross charity and has just moved its base to Fulwood Fire Station, Preston, provides round-the-clock help for people when things have gone badly wrong, such as a house fire or flood.

The van has been called out about 60 times so far in 2015, including in Blackburn, Accrington, Rawtenstall, Burnley and Nelson.

Besides offering immediate safe shelter, along with clothing, food and washing facilities, the team also helps with practical necessities such as securing temporary accommodation and contacting insurance companies.

Crucially, the volunteers are also trained to provide emotional support too, which can make a huge difference at distressing times.

Alison Foy, the charity’s co-ordinator for Lancashire, said: “The service has been around in Lancashire for 17 years and we’ve just moved our base from Preston to Fulwood.

“Currently, we’ve got 15 volunteers, and 13 who are active, but really we want more than 20 to take the pressure off people.

“We go to all sorts of incidents to give people some extra support when they’re at their most vulnerable.

“It means the fire service can know people will be well looked after and given some emotional support.

“It’s often the middle of the night when these things happen and we’ll get them on the vehicle and start looking for anything they might need.”

The service is fully funded by the Red Cross, but a special fundraising effort throughout 2013, enabled the team to buy a new vehicle last year.

Willing volunteers are invited to an open day at Fulwood fire station on Garstang Road, Preston, at 11am on Thursday.