▁Service ▁was ▁founded ▁on ▁ 1 ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁following ▁the ▁mer ger ▁of ▁Dev on ▁Fire ▁and ▁Res cue ▁Service ▁with ▁Som erset ▁Fire ▁and ▁Res cue ▁Service . ▁The ▁Som erset ▁service , ▁previously ▁known ▁as ▁Som erset ▁Fire ▁Brigade , ▁was ▁formed ▁on ▁ 1 ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 8 . ▁Dev on ▁Fire ▁Brigade ▁was ▁formed ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 3 , ▁by ▁the ▁am alg am ation ▁of ▁Ex eter ▁City ▁Brigade , ▁P ly mouth ▁City ▁Brigade ▁and ▁Dev on ▁County ▁Brigade . ▁It ▁became ▁Dev on ▁Fire ▁and ▁Res cue ▁Service ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 . ▁ ▁The ▁Service ' s ▁main ▁headquarters ▁is ▁located ▁at ▁C ly st ▁St ▁George ▁near ▁Ex eter . ▁Its ▁main ▁training ▁centre ▁is ▁the ▁Service ▁Training ▁Centre ▁( ST C ) ▁at ▁P ly m pton ▁fire ▁station . ▁The ▁Service ▁emp lo ys ▁approximately ▁ 1 , 8 5 0 ▁staff , ▁including ▁ 5 7 8 ▁whole ▁time ▁fire fig h ters ▁and ▁ 3 6 ▁control ▁room ▁staff , ▁ 9 3 0 ▁retained ▁fire fig h ters ▁and ▁ 3 0 0 ▁non - uniform ed ▁staff . ▁ ▁Each ▁county ▁operated ▁its ▁own ▁control ▁room ▁until ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁but ▁they ▁now ▁have ▁a ▁single ▁control ▁room ▁at ▁Service ▁Head quarters , ▁Ex eter . ▁ ▁Fire ▁stations / app li ances ▁▁ ▁The ▁fire ▁service ▁oper ates ▁ 8 5 ▁fire ▁stations ,