A four-legged firefighter has stepped in to help young pupils recover after a devastating blaze left their school unusable, offering comfort in the wake of a traumatic incident.
Children affected by a fire at The Promise School in Okehampton have received emotional support from a wellbeing dog deployed by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.
The school has been closed for the immediate future after a fire in February destroyed the roof and first floor and severely damaged around 80% of the ground floor. Its 16 primary-aged pupils are now temporarily based at Okehampton Primary School, which is part of Dartmoor Multi Academy Trust.
Digby, a seven-year-old brown labradoodle who has been a permanent member of the service since 2018, visited the children to help reduce anxiety and provide reassurance. The visit also formed part of wider educational work to help young people understand fire risks and safety.
Fire crews tackled the blaze through the night, initially deploying three appliances with specialist equipment before sending six more as the situation escalated. Crews used water, foam jets and aerial platforms to bring the fire under control and protect nearby buildings.
Matt Goodman, Digby’s owner and handler, said: “Digby has a natural ability to connect with people, particularly in difficult situations. Supporting these children, as well as our fire service colleagues, is a vital part of his role.
“Our colleagues worked tirelessly to tackle this blaze, and the whole community came together to support, so it is great to be giving something back.”
Quentin Gundreson, principal at The Promise School, said: “This has been an incredibly challenging time for our pupils and staff. Support like Digby’s visit is invaluable in helping children feel safe, calm and supported.”
Digby is specially trained as a defusing dog and also supports fire crews returning from challenging incidents, as well as assisting people in crisis.
The service plans to return to Okehampton in the coming months, bringing a fire appliance to demonstrate how fires are tackled and offering further opportunities for children to engage with Digby.
