OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY STATISTICS 2000/01

1. The Authority has received a report of the Chief Fire Officer on the level of operational activity during 2000/01. The operational activity has a direct impact on resources both in terms of the deployment of personnel and in the use of vehicles and equipment. The total number of incidents attended was 22,987, a decrease of 63 on the previous year but the underlying trend shows an increase of 5.8% since 1990/91. There were 4,157 primary fires (mainly those involving property), a decrease of 80 on the previous year. Since 1990/91 the underlying trend in these calls shows a 9.5% rise. Calls for "special services", such as chemical incidents, lift rescues and animal rescues increased from 2,698 to 3,344. It is noticeable that in the past two years there has been an increase in the number of flooding incidents attended. The relatively high level of special service calls reflects the wider range of rescue and other emergency work now being undertaken by the Service.

2. False alarms of "good intent" totalled 2,392 - a slight decrease on the previous year. These are not viewed as a major problem because the Service considers that the public should be encouraged to make calls if in any doubt about the possibility of a fire or other incident. Despite the continued efforts to reduce the upward trend in the number of calls to automatic fire alarms, last year showed a slight increase in the total figure for the first time since 1997/98. There was also an increase in the number of malicious (hoax) fire calls received by the Service. However, this could be partly the result of re-categorising malicious calls from automatic fire alarms as hoax calls. Although comparisons with other brigades showed that Hampshire's malicious calls for the calendar year 2000 increased by 27% over the previous year, the overall total remains one of the lowest in the country. A new initiative aimed at reducing such calls will involve messages being sent to mobile phones used to make malicious calls stating the use of the phone will be cancelled by the service provider.

3. As a result of continuing changes in fire cover arrangements with neighbouring fire authorities, there has been a general decrease in the number of incidents that Hampshire has had to deal with over the County border since 1991. Under the Fire Services Act 1947, charges can be levied, between neighbouring authorities. However, recent reviews of fire cover around the County boundary have resulted in fewer calls and income has reduced accordingly.

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