WITH three massive fires in the region in the space of three weeks, the fire service has hardly been out of the headlines.

First Wycombe Ski Centre on November 22, then High Wycombe rail station five days later, and now the immense fire at Buncefield oil depot in Hemel Hempstead.

CLARA STORY looks at how Buckinghamshire's Fire and Rescue Service coped, and visits High Wycombe fire station to meet some front line firefighters.

FIREFIGHTING is a hazardous job, working unpredictable hours, and involving some pretty tough training.

We expect them to be on call whenever someone leaves a chip pan on the stove, but when the region's landmarks seem to be going up in smoke one by one lately, the fire service has been stretched pretty hard.

But thanks to part-time firefighters and replacement crews from other areas, they have it covered, said Fraser Pearson from Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue.

The system is highly polished, and acts like a "closing web" of resources wherever fire engines are sent out. For example, an engine from Amersham came to replace Wycombe engines at the St Mary Street station while the crews were fighting the rail station fire, said Mr Pearson.

That engine ended up answering a call to fight a house fire in High Wycombe making sure the public are protected even when big fires take their regular firefighters' time.

Sub Officer Andy Ward is the chief firefighter of Red Watch at High Wycombe fire station.

He described being a firefighter as "brilliant" and said that the rigorous training prepared firefighters for any kind of fire in the area.

Mr Ward, from Totteridge, High Wycombe, has been a firefighter for 27 years. He said: "The job has changed since I started.

"We have got better equipment, and better gear they changed what we wear after the King's Cross fire, when they realised our clothes were getting really hot. We were in things like plastic gloves which just melted."

Training is a constant process, even for someone of his experience, and they practice procedures daily they even have scrap cars in their yard to practice cutting people free from accidents.

"We deal with a lot more car accidents than fires nowadays." he said. Diagrams of how to cut cars open line the walls of their training room.

Large scale fires are still a major part of the job, and Red Watch was the first on the scene at the Wycombe rail station fire. They ended up calling five engines in total, after Mr Ward saw the extent of the fire.

Leading Firefighter Clive Sharman, from Downley, said that once they knew no one was in danger, they could prioritise putting out the fire. He said: "We don't enjoy other people's misfortune, but that is what we get job satisfaction from. From a job well done."

The team also attended the ski centre fire, but only to damp down the smouldering wreck after the 14 other crews put the flames out.

Mr Ward said: "It was just a bonfire. It was made of timber, which does just go up."

He also criticised the antiquated hydrant system in High Wycombe for the lack of water supply which hampered the operation.

Fire crews from Amersham and Aylesbury have been helping to fight the Buncefield oil fire, but no one from the High Wycombe station. Earlier in the week, firefighters were pulled out of the site for fear of more petrol explosions.

While fighting a fire a couple of years ago at Danesfield House near Marlow, Mr Sharman and a colleague were caught under a collapsing roof as the building burned around them.

"We were on a landing and part of the roof just crumbled in on us," he said. He was caught by a few tiles but escaped serious injury however, it reminded him he puts himself at risk every day. Mr Ward said: "It is a calculated risk. No one wants to send firefighters out to die we do things as safely as we can."

Mr Ward said that fire prevention is now a huge part of the job, rather than just putting things out. He said: "Now when you walk into a room, you have to think: What would catch fire?' Electrical equipment has to be checked all the time."

Along with training, maintenance and regular drills, the firefighters rarely have a moment to spare unlike the image of the card-playing firemen waiting for a call.

Mr Ward said: "Sometimes calls are an inconvenience. I can't remember the last time I played cards or snooker."

Firefighters are busy people whether Buckinghamshire is burning down or not, the service adjusts to use its resources to fight and prevent fire.

As Mr Ward said, there is always something that needs doing.