Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority

15 September 2004 Item 7

Activity Report

Report of the Chief Officer

Contact: Deputy Chief Fire Officer Alan House - 023 8062 6831

1

Introduction

1.1

In the past, at each HFRA meeting, Members have received a report on any significant operational activity.

1.2

Following the organisational restructure on 1 August 2004 from Divisions to Groups, future reports will highlight activity associated with the 3 supporting legs of our Integrated Risk Management Plan: Preventing, Protecting and Responding.

1.3

The activity included in the report will be that which is significant or unusual. The absence of any comment for any one function or Group does not indicate inactivity.

1.4

Due to the short period since the formation of the new Group structure, this particular report contains less information than may well be the case for future reports.

2

Summary of the Fire Challenge Crew (Schools Education) (1 April 2004 to 23 July 2004)

2.1

Preventing

School Type

Total Number of Establishments in Hampshire

Infant (Key Stage 1)

177

Primary (Key Stage 1/2)

225

Junior (Key Stage 2)

153

Secondary (Key Stage 3)

104

Group

Summer Safety - Hampshire Campaign

Escape Plans - National Campaign

CFS Department

20 Kitchen Fire Safety Unit demonstrations were carried out across the county.

All Groups

Kitchen fire safety leaflet distributed as part of the home fire safety check.

Southampton

BBQ safety events at local retail stores.

Banner display and all day event in store event at the local Asda.

Portsmouth and Havant

All day event at Paulsgrove carnival and fun day.

All day event at Paulsgrove carnival and fun day.

Eastleigh and Test Valley

Eastleigh Fire Station.

Fire Show at HFRS HQ.

Banner display at Eastleigh Fire Station. Fireshow at HFRS HQ.

Gosport and Fareham

Gosport - Door to door campaigning following serious kitchen fire top floor flat.

Banner Display.

Basingstoke and Deane

Odiham Fire Show.

Banner Display.

Odiham Fire Show.

Winchester

All day publicity event.

All day publicity event.

Banner display and literature distribution.

New Forest

New Forest County Show.

New Forest County Show.

2.2

Protecting

2.2.1

Community Fire Risk Management Information System:

We are currently in the final stages of the tender process for the provision of a risk management information system. This is the new system will be replacing our existing fire safety database. It will provide integrated access to known information about risks within the county of Hampshire, and enable risk data to be accurately recorded. The system interfaces with Wings, a Geographic Information System (GIS) providing accurate plotting of the locations where risk data has been collected from. This powerful facility will enable easy tracking of premises which are unknown to HFRS. This system will greatly enhance our ability to record risk ratings for premises etc, and enable effective targeting of resources to reduce risk.

2.2.2

Fire Safety Audit:

We have successfully developed a fire safety auditing tool which effectively brings together three important key tasks.

(1) Data gathering on other buildings to facilitate the Fire Service Emergency Cover toolkit. (Other Buildings means, all premises other than a single private dwelling).

(2) A fire safety auditing tool which identifies the compliance level of the Responsible Person against the requirements of Fire Regulations.

(3) Alignment of the outcomes of the Fire Safety Audit to the HSE/LAU Enforcement Management Model.

This process has been favoured to be used as the National Model and is currently being promoted for other fire services to adopt.

2.2.3

New Licensing Act:

A protocol is being established with Local and Unitary Authorities to establish Fire Safety requirements to safeguard Public Safety within the operating schedules of licensed premises. This activity will encourage compliance with fire regulations by all licence applicants when applying for Premises licence under the new Licensing Act. The first initiation date of the new Licensing Act has been given as the 7 February 2005.

This activity is to be confirmed within a Memo Of Understanding between each Authority and will contribute greatly towards risk reduction in all licensed premises.

Partnership with Property Business and Regulatory Services of the Hampshire County Council - Sprinkler Installation and Risk Management

Technical Fire Safety has been a key player in developing a partnership with the Property Business and Regulatory Services of the Hampshire County Council. A fire safety inspector has been seconded from Group Support to work directly with County architects to assist with identifying risk at the planning stage of new premises and the renovation of existing. The partnership delivers an appropriate and cost effective solution to effectively reduce risk, focussing on sprinkler protection.

2.2.4

E-fire Stream 2:

The work of Technical Fire Safety has been recognised by representatives of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister who have given an invitation to Hampshire to be a reference brigade for E-fire Stream. This will assist with enabling Business and Commerce to interface with Technical Fire Safety activities in line with E-Government requirements.

2.3

Responding

2.3.1

Speed of Response LP 20

Since the abolition of the National Standards of Fire Cover we have set ourselves a target of responding to 80% of all emergency calls within 8 minutes. We are currently involved in a number of new initiatives to improve our current impressive performance.

2.3.2

Number of Emergency Incidents Attended

We are still seeing a slight decrease in the total number of fires attended. This is encouraging and can be attributed to Community Safety programmes that are in place. The activity statistics are not yet available for August but it is estimated that the unseasonable weather will have had a direct impact on the number of fires involving grass and heath land. It is also encouraging to note that we have not experienced wide area flooding despite the heavy rain that has been experienced during this period.

2.3.3

Non Emergency Response

We have now been operating the non emergency response option since the 1 July. This has seen us respond to approximately 200 incidents. We have had no adverse comments from the public about the level of service they receive at incidents that are now under this new category.

2.3.4

Day Crewing Trial

The trial involving the relocation of an appliance from Cosham and Redbridge to Havant and Winchester commenced on the 1 September. A full report will be given at the next meeting.

3

Group Activity

Preventing

Community Support Team (After the Fire Visits):

Number of dwelling fires attended: 13

Number of properties visited: 167

Audience numbers during visit: 34

Number of smoke detectors fitted as a result of these visits: 7

Operational Crews - Talks:

Number: 18

Audience numbers: 218

Operational Crews - Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number: 2

Audience numbers: 6

Number of smoke detectors fitted: 3

Protecting

An integrated approach to risk reduction planning has been introduced for the following premises:

- North Hampshire Hospital

- Festival Place

- Stratfield Saye House

This initiative involves premises occupiers, technical fire safety, the local fire station manager and other appropriate agencies, working together to reduce all aspects risk over and above the normal legislative requirements and existing standards.

Responding

No significant activity.

Preventing

Community Support Team:

Number of dwelling fires attended: 7

Number of properties visited: 78

Audience numbers during visit: 10

Number of smoke detectors fitted as a result of these visits: 4

Operational Crews - Talks:

Number: 10

Audience numbers: 217

Operational Crews - Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number: 35

Audience numbers: 43

Number of smoke detectors fitted: 46

Protecting

We have been working with the Local Authority to establish a targeting procedure focusing on Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs). Additionally, an integrated approach to risk reduction planning has been introduced for the following premises:

- Wellington Shopping Centre

This initiative involves premises occupiers, technical fire safety, the local fire station manager and other appropriate agencies, working together to reduce all aspects risk over and above the normal legislative requirements and existing standards.

Responding

18 June 2004: 5 pumps were mobilised to deal with a fire in a disused carpet warehouse in Hawley Lane, Farnborough, the first pump being in attendance within 7 minutes. The fire was on the ground floor of a one and 3 storey building, 30 metres by 31 metres. Firefighting was hampered by the sandwich panel construction of the building but was brought under control using 2 jets and 10 breathing apparatus. Police and Fire investigators are working together to establish the cause which was considered to be malicious ignition.

Preventing

Community Support Team:

Number of dwelling fires attended: 16

Number of properties visited: 125

Audience numbers during visit: 18

Number of smoke detectors fitted as a result of these visits: 6

Operational Crews - Talks:

Number: 5

Audience numbers: 33

Operational Crews - Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number: 0

Audience numbers: 0

Number of smoke detectors fitted: 0

Protecting

No significant activity.

Responding

13 July 2004: A fire in a large domestic garage containing one acetylene and one argon cylinder in London Road, Horndean, was within 200 metres of the northbound carriageway of the A3(M). Under the present national guidelines for dealing with cylinders involved in fire this necessitated closing the A3(M) in both directions and evacuating approximately 200 residents from homes within a 200 metre exclusion zone. The first pump was in attendance within 5 minutes and commenced firefighting and cooling the acetylene cylinder as Police dealt with evacuation. The cylinder was cooled for 24 hours before being declared completely safe when the road was reopened and residents returned to their homes. This again shows the costs involved and disruption that can be caused by fires involving acetylene cylinders which can be found and used in private as well as commercial premises.

Preventing

Community Support Team:

Number of dwelling fires attended: 16

Number of properties visited: 238

Audience numbers during visit: 41

Number of smoke detectors fitted as a result of these visits: 20

Operational Crews - Talks:

Number: 14

Audience numbers: 250

Operational Crews - Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number: 103

Audience numbers: 76

Number of smoke detectors fitted: 123

Protecting

No significant activity.

Responding

27 July 2004: Fire Control were inundated with 89 calls to a fire at the rear of the Explosions Museum in Heritage Way, Gosport. The first pump arrived within 7 minutes and made pumps up to 5 and later to 7. The incident involved a building 72 metres by 46 metres containing 7000 wheelie bins. As the building was showing signs of collapse, crews were withdrawn at one stage and the fire was tackled in defensive mode. The structure was severely damaged and 4 adjacent buildings were affected by radiated heat. 7 jets, 3 ground monitors, 20 BA and an ALP monitor working from open water were used during the operation

Preventing

Community Support Team:

Number of dwelling fires attended: 30

Number of properties visited: 745

Audience numbers during visit: 172

Number of smoke detectors fitted as a result of these visits: 16

Operational Crews - Talks:

Number: 12

Audience numbers: 488

Operational Crews - Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number: 640

Audience numbers: 574

Number of smoke detectors fitted: 1016

Protecting

Our partnership with Portsmouth Environmental Health (PEH), continues to show results. We have completed numerous joint inspections resulting in several improvement and prohibition notices being served. We have been working with owners to resolve wide range of fire safety issues, work is currently underway to develop opportunities for the installation of residential sprinkler systems in those premises where enforcement activity has been high.

Responding

22 August 2004: Nine emergency calls were received to a fire in a block of flats in Norfolk Crescent at Hayling Island. It was quickly identified from callers that persons were trapped by the fire and it was treated as a `persons reported' incident. The first pump was in attendance in 5 minutes and pumps were made up to 5 and a turntable ladder was requested. The fire was located on the third floor of the 5 storey block of flats. The stop message was received within 45 minutes of the first call to the Service and indicated that the fire on the third floor of the 200 metre by 12 metre 5 storey building had claimed the lives of 2 male persons on the fourth floor. A Fire Investigation Team are currently working with Police Scenes of Crime Officers to establish the cause of the fire.

25 August 2004: A fire in an estate agents in London Road, Portsmouth, initially attracted 2 pumps, the first of which was in attendance in 3 minutes. The fire quickly spread from the ground floor to the first floor and roof and pumps were made up to 6 and then 8 with a turntable ladder also requested when persons were reported. The severe fire in the building 36 metres by 5 metres was brought under control using 5 jets, 1 hosereel and 28 breathing apparatus and all persons were accounted for.

Preventing

Community Support Team:

Number of dwelling fires attended: 13

Number of properties visited: 137

Audience numbers during visit: 37

Number of smoke detectors fitted as a result of these visits: 5

Operational Crews - Talks:

Number: 3

Audience numbers: 18

Operational Crews - Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number: 58

Audience numbers: 51

Number of smoke detectors fitted: 80

Protecting

An integrated approach to risk reduction planning has been introduced for the following premises:

- Winchester Cathedral

- Winchester Prison

This initiative involves premises occupiers, technical fire safety, the local fire station manager and other appropriate agencies, working together to reduce all aspects risk over and above the normal legislative requirements and existing standards.

Responding

29 May 2004: Control were requested by the Police to assist at the scene of a white powder incident in a marquee which was to be used for a wedding reception at Bishops Waltham Palace. A full hazmat response was made together with specialist decontamination equipment for dealing with this type of incident. Approximately 20 people had been contaminated with the powder which could not be identified in the early stages. Some suffered rashes on their skin and it was decided to disrobe and decontaminate them using our mobile shower facilities. Some had left the scene to other locations within the county and these were also decontaminated in a similar manner. A chemical adviser from Essex with special chemical monitoring equipment was flown in to assist in identifying the white powder. It was later established that it was dry powder from an extinguisher and Police arrested 3 youths for causing an offence. This served as a very useful test of our mobilising arrangements for New Dimension type incidents and fortunately nobody suffered ill affects and the wedding reception subsequently went ahead.

Preventing

Community Support Team:

Number of dwelling fires attended: 19

Number of properties visited: 176

Audience numbers during visit: 63

Number of smoke detectors fitted as a result of these visits: 6

Operational Crews - Talks:

Number: 19

Audience numbers: 817

Operational Crews - Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number: 18

Audience numbers: 20

Number of smoke detectors fitted: 12

Protecting

No significant activity.

Responding

No significant activity.

Preventing

Community Support Team:

Number of dwelling fires attended: 47

Number of properties visited: 373

Audience numbers during visit: 82

Number of smoke detectors fitted as a result of these visits: 17

Operational Crews - Talks:

Number: 39

Audience numbers: 1042

Operational Crews - Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number: 16

Audience numbers: 23

Number of smoke detectors fitted: 20

Protecting

An integrated approach to risk reduction planning has been introduced for the following premises:

- West Quay Shopping Centre

This initiative involves premises occupiers, technical fire safety, the local fire station manager and other appropriate agencies, working together to reduce all aspects risk over and above the normal legislative requirements and existing standards.

Responding

20 May 2004: 2 fire crews from Hightown Fire Station arrived at a fire in Lydgate Road, Southampton, within 4 minutes of the emergency call being received in Control. They quickly made pumps up to 3 and then to 5 when the smoke from a fire in a ground floor flat spread through the stairwell affecting 8 other flats. The fire was quickly brought under control and 9 persons were rescued from the building via HFRS ladders.

23 May 2004: A fire at Jordans Scrapyard in Princes Street, Southampton, was attended within 3 minutes of the call. Pumps were made up to 6 with a Water Carrier, Aerial Ladder Platform (ALP) and numerous other special appliances requested. The incident involved a stack of scrap metal and cars 30 metres by 40 metres by 40 metres high and was extinguished using 4 jets and a monitor from the ALP with crews remaining on site for 8 hours.

Preventing

Community Support Team:

Number of dwelling fires attended: 6

Number of properties visited: 84

Audience numbers during visit: 18

Number of smoke detectors fitted as a result of these visits: 0

Operational Crews - Talks:

Number: 1

Audience numbers: 19

Operational Crews - Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number: 0

Audience numbers: 0

Number of smoke detectors fitted: 0

Protecting

No significant activity.

Responding

2 June 2004: Crews were mobilised to a thatched roof fire at Packridge Cottage, Martin, one of the most remote rural locations in the county. The first crews from Fordingbridge and Cranborne (Dorset) arrived in 14 minutes. The roof was well alight and pumps were made up to 8 and then 10 with crews from Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset working together to control the fire. The roof of the building was severely damaged and 2 jets, 4 hosereels and numerous breathing apparatus were used during firefighting operations.

Preventing

Community Support Team:

Number of dwelling fires attended: 9

Number of properties visited: 87

Audience numbers during visit: 18

Number of smoke detectors fitted as a result of these visits: 2

Operational Crews - Talks:

Number: 8

Audience numbers: 235

Operational Crews - Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number: 0

Audience numbers: 0

Number of smoke detectors fitted: 0

Protecting

No significant activity.

Responding

2 June 2004: While the previous incident was at its height, a further fire in the New Forest at Mead End, Sway, stretched our resources considerably. 6 pumps and a water carrier attended this incident which involved 2 garages 25 metres by 10 metres containing vehicles, garage equipment and butane cylinders. The first appliance from the closest station at Brockenhurst was in attendance in 9 minutes and with both fires being fought simultaneously our Control staff were extremely busy balancing resources with standby moves throughout the Forest area.

21 August 2004: A serious fire was reported in a bungalow at Litchford Road, Ashley, near New Milton. The first pump was in attendance in 6 minutes and made pumps up to 4. The kitchen and roof of the building were severely damaged by the fire which was extinguished using 1 jet, 2 hosereels and 6 breathing apparatus. A 13 year old boy was taken from the property, given oxygen therapy at the scene and then removed to hospital by Ambulance.

24 August 2004: A call for assistance and request for a Category 2 response was received from Esso Fawley Refinery who were dealing with a fire within their depot. The well exercised mobilising arrangements were put into operation with 6 pumping appliances and support vehicles being sent into the depot and standby pumps mobilised to surrounding HFRS fire stations. The fire in an area of the refining process was contained very quickly by on site crews with the assistance of HFRS. The incident was successfully resolved by speedy implementation of the prearranged emergency plan and there were no off site implications.