WHEN the worst has happened and families have lost everything they own, the sight of the Red Cross emergency unit can feel like a life-saver.

The Essex Fire and Emergency Support Service was set up in 2004 to assist Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in helping people cope in the aftermath of a fire, flood or damage to their home.

It is run solely by volunteers who come equipped with a large camper van fitted out with a toilet, cooking and washing facilities, as well as a comfortable space for people in need to sit and have a cup of tea.

The van also carries clothes, toys, toiletries and food.

Dawn Hopkinson, fire and emergency support service for the Essex British Red Cross, said: “The first thing I learned when I became part of the emergency support service team is that you can never assume it will never happen to you.

“The second was how destructive not only fire can be, but also the smoke it creates. Smoke from a fire alone can make a property completely uninhabitable, ruining everything it comes into contact with.

“A house fire is an incredibly frightening experience, even more so when it happens at night.

“People are scared, disorientated, probably not fully awake.

“Imagine it is 3.30am and you have just lost everything you own in a house fire or flood.

“Your family is safe, but your children are cold and miserable, and your nearest relative lives many miles away. It is during these first few hours of the crisis that you need help the most.”

Regardless of the time of day or night, the fire service contacts the unit and volunteers will be on scene as soon as possible.

There they can help with everything from the physical – clean, dry clothes, tea and food – to more practical things, such as contacting insurance companies or trying to arrange temporary housing.

Volunteers can also offer advice on how to replace crucial documents and where to get other emotional or practical help. Mrs Hopkinson added: “The service is free to the people receiving it; all costs are met by voluntary donations to the Red Cross.

“At the moment, we have a number of volunteers in Essex, but we need more to maintain our high standard of service in this most rewarding of duties.

“If you have time on your hands, are just retired or looking for work, and are willing to commit to being on an on-call rota, we are looking for volunteers to help us extend our cover.

“The times we urgently need volunteers are Monday to Thursday, 6am to 6pm, and for all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”

No training is necessary, but volunteers need to be compassionate, dedicated and reliable.

The unit is based in South Woodham Ferrers and covers all of Essex.