Fire chiefs should investigate whether they can recoup the costs of traffic accidents, according to county councillor Richard Smith.

Every year the Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attend around 460 traffic collisions on the county’s roads.

On the scene they may free passengers from wreckage, clear spills and debris and – whenever they are first on the scene – they can offer first aid too.

The costs are currently met by Hertfordshire County Council, in its role as fire authority.

But now county councillor Richard Smith, who represents the Welwyn division, has questioned whether the costs should be met elsewhere.

And at a meeting of the council’s community safety and waste management cabinet panel he asked the county’s acting chief fire officer to investigate.

“There are a growing number of road traffic collisions,” said Cllr Smith. “Should we be asking for costs for attendance at them?”

Following the meeting Cllr Smith said that – provided it was lawful – recovery of costs would provide additional income to the fire service.

He said he asked for the matter to be looked in to, after learning about a scheme in Denmark.

Ambulance providers in the UK are already reimbursed for attendance at some road accidents, under the NHS Injury Cost Recovery Scheme.

As part of that scheme, whenever a personal injury claim is made after a road accident the ambulance provider is reimbursed to the tune of £208 to cover their costs.

The idea will now be explored by Hertfordshire County Council.

A spokesperson for the council said: “This is currently being considered by the council before any decisions are made.”