Changes to enable Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service to save more lives by making sure it has the right people and equipment, in the right places at the right time are published today.
The county’s sixth Annual Action Plan, for 2009/10, which will be considered by the county council’s Cabinet next week, builds upon changes already introduced by Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service which in recent years has moved away from simply just fighting fires to a service that spends equal time and energy on preventing fires from happening in the first place.
Many of the changes introduced since 2004 have had a significant effect on the number of deaths and injuries caused by fire with a steady downward trend over the last four years.
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service is committed to community-based work that reflects the changing role of the modern fire service.
All Fire and Rescue Services are required to produce Integrated Risk Management Plans that improve community safety and allocate resources to promote fire prevention.
Work is continuing within Cumbria to make communities across the county safer and prevent incidents and the Service is working in partnership with other organisations to identify and protect the people that are most at risk.
This action plan details how Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service will develop in the coming years. In particular how it will work to engage local communities.
Integrated Risk Management Plans (IRMPs) are delivered via yearly action plans and next year’s action plan for the Fire and Rescue Service proposes several actions, including:
- to provide more medical training for operational staff in partnership with the North West Ambulance Service
- to encourage the fitting of domestic sprinklers in homes at most risk
- to review service delivery from Penrith Fire Station
This year’s consultation period, subject to Cabinet’s approval of the proposals, will commence on 2 September and conclude on 25 November. The results will then be reported back to Cabinet.
Copies of both document will be available at all libraries throughout the county, as well as mobile libraries, and an electronic version will be available on line at www.cumbricc.gov.uk/fireservice (external link).
ENDS
Media enquiries to Media Officer Chris Little on 01228 226334.