Nottinghamshire residents became safer from fire and rescue related risks in 2020/21*, according to a report published last week.
In our Annual Statement of Assurance, we are pleased to report that the number of fires and incidents that we needed to attend decreased. These reduced by 5% and 7% respectively.
As well as fires, firefighters are also called to help with road traffic collisions, animal and water rescues, rescues from heights or confined spaces, incidents involving hazardous chemicals and to support the other emergency services.
Of the fires and other incidents that our firefighters did attend, they rescued 1,277 people. Our response standard is to attend all incidents from the time we are mobilised in an average of 8 minutes. We are pleased to report we managed to reach those in danger within an average of 7 minutes and 50 seconds.
Decreases in fires and other incidents allow firefighters to focus on preventing incidents from happening, by visiting or speaking with those who could be at risk of a fire in their home or by holding events to engage with communities.
During 2020/21, our firefighters and our specialist Prevention team staff delivered nearly 6,000 Safe and Well visits. These involve giving fire safety advice and fitting smoke alarms to ensure that people are safe in their homes. These staff also completed 150 fire, road or water safety initiatives.
In addition, our staff assisted with a range of humanitarian work during the pandemic, including administering vaccinations, building test centres and delivering medicine or food parcels.
To date, our staff have helped to give vaccinations to over 71,500 people, deliver over 12,500 food or medicine parcels and build 22 testing centres.
Our Annual Statement of Assurance also outlines our work in 2020/21 to ensure the safety of people living in high-rise residential buildings, our work with businesses to prevent incidents from happening and our drive to recruit people from under-represented backgrounds.
It also explains how we invested in new equipment to improve the rescues we can make and how we made efficiency savings.
Chief Fire Officer John Buckley said: ‘We are really proud to deliver the best service that we possibly can to people, which helps to reduce incidents and save lives.
‘When we are not responding to emergencies, we use our time wisely by helping to improve fire safety in our communities or by supporting our partners.
‘Everyone at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service is proud to serve you, and we will keep working hard to drive risks down even further in the future.’
Councillor Michael Payne, Chair of the Fire Authority, said: ‘I have been very reassured by this report that our fire service is taking every opportunity to improve public safety.
‘The annual report makes sure that the Service is achieving its longer-term strategy and is fulfilling its ambition of creating even safer communities.
‘I would like to thank the Service for doing its very best for the people of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.’
The Annual Statement of Assurance can be found at www.notts-fire.gov.uk/about/vision-and-values
This report ensures that the Service is on track to fulfil its three-year strategic plan, which runs until 2022. You can find a copy of this plan via the same link.
The Service will start consulting communities on its next strategic plan, for 2022–25, on 18 October 2021.
*Period relates to the financial year for 2020/21.
