Sixteen extra firefighters will be recruited as Government steps up East End fire cover at a cost of more than $600,000.

Finance Minister, the Hon. Grant Gibbons, announced yesterday that a permanent full-time fire service will be set up to cover the St. George's area.

It will be based on the old US Naval Air Base and will end months of worry over the state of fire cover since the Americans pulled out.

Last night, St. George's North MP, Ms Jennifer Smith, welcomed the Government's move saying it was a concept she applauded.

"I am sure that the residents of the East End will welcome this news especially as it will mean having faster response times,'' she added.

Up to June 1, a mutual aid agreement existed between the Bermuda Fire Service and the US Base authorities -- ending with the demise of the Base -- to cover the East End.

When the Base was wound down, the St. George's Fire Brigade was allowed to respond first to calls outside the town's boundaries - previously it had been limited to just the town's boundaries.

However, it still meant any back-up had to arrive from Hamilton with fire engines taking up to 25 minutes to get to the scene.

Yesterday, Dr. Gibbons said three possibilities were investigated -- contracting Serco to cover the East End as well as the Airport, expand the St.

George's Brigade area and establishing a new fire centre.

Dr. Gibbons said Serco's equipment was designed specifically for aircraft fires and regulations meant the majority of its equipment had to stay at the Airport.

With its members having full-time jobs, Dr. Gibbons said sometimes St.

George's Brigade response times to calls were outside the 10 minutes considered a maximum for Bermuda.

He said, also, a recent report by Her Majesty's Inspector of Fire Services recommended that a new specialist centre be set up in the East End.

"The Government has agreed that the most satisfactory solution is to establish a new Fire Station at the East End, mirroring that of the West End,'' said Dr. Gibbons.

Based at the former US Base, Dr. Gibbons said 10 minute response times could be met for the entire East End, a back-up could be provided for Serco and the need to call in off-duty Bermuda Fire Service staff eliminated.

He said it would also give the East End a new medical emergency service -- as training continues to expand fire service cover into giving emergency medical help to save lives.

Dr. Gibbons said the new operation would cost about $500,000 a year to run, plus $120,000 this year to set up. It is hoped the centre will be up and running by the end of April next year.

The new operation will run in tandem with the existing St. George's fire service and will not be in competition.

Last night, Mr. Gary Renaud, St. George's Fire Brigade chief, said he welcomed the idea of having a professional service complementing them.

"The two services will work in conjunction with each other on a mutual aid basis -- very much as we did with the US Navy,'' added Mr. Renaud.

"We anticipate better training and we look forward to working with them. We are quite pleased with the fact they will be represented in the East End.''