Archived decisions

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Item

14 February 2007

Activity Report

Report of the Chief Officer

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

1

Responding

1.1

It is extremely encouraging to see the continued down trend in the number of fires that we are attending. This reflects the enormous amount of effort that is being put into community safety activity across the county. However, the tragic incident in Trafalgar Court, Fareham, in which an elderly lady lost her life as a result of a preventable fire serves as a reminder of the need to continue to work with our partners to target our resources to those vulnerable sections of the community that we serve.

1.2

The fires that occurred on the 7, 19 and 22 December in the Southampton area underline the need to continue to educate the public in the dangers of fire and the need to have and practice home escape plans. These 3 fires could have resulted in a high loss of life but due to a combination of early warning by smoke alarms and the professional actions of the responding crews no lives were lost. All 3 of these incidents involved HFRS personnel rescuing 5 people with 15 others being led to safety.

1.3

The incident at J and W Tipper Hire in Hazel Road, Southampton, involved a large amount of scrap material on fire. This incident gave us the opportunity to use the High Volume Pumping Unit (HVPU) to relay large amounts of water to bring the fire under control. Strategies to incorporate the HVPU into our major incident plans for dealing with large fires are now being developed. This will enable us to move large volumes of water along pre planned routes without causing major traffic disruptions.

2

Preventing

2.1

Home Fire Safety Visits (HFSV)

In order to be successful in reducing lives lost in fires and ensuring that by 2010 every home in Hampshire has smoke detection HFRS must target their limited resources where they have most effect. There have been endeavours to do this over the last three years but now that more management information is available this can be improved. To ensure effectiveness of activity the following target groups have been identified:

· Homes with children under 5 years old

· People over 60

· People suffering a disability

· Those who are socially or financially disadvantaged

· Homes where English is not the first language

· People living alone

· Additionally any home that does not have existing smoke detection

To improve efficiency all referrals will now be risk rated and eventually only those in the target groups will automatically receive a HFSV. Those outside of these groups will still be offered additional information or the opportunity to attend a Home Risk Assessment Presentation at their local fire station where they will receive a free smoke detector for each level of their home.

Increased importance will be placed on acquiring high quality referrals from partners such as Primary Care Trusts and Social Services Departments. These type of partnerships are fully in line with the Local Area Agreement. The early phase of this re-focus will require more resources to be put into sourcing targeted referrals but this can be offset by efficiency gains such as the ability to deliver HFSVs using lone workers.

The changes to support this refocus are to be phased in starting from 1 February 2007.

Training has been provided to Drum Housing Association to offer HFSV on a third party delivery basis. It is not anticipated that large numbers of HFSVs will be carried out from this particular partnership but it does cover areas which currently have no resources ands it will inform future strategies for using other agencies, including volunteers.

2.2

Student Ambassador

Our 2 month contract with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), delivering the `Firekills' campaign to students in shared and rented accommodation in Southampton is now complete. This is now under review using feedback from the Student Brand Ambassador and DCLG to identify further activity. It is planned to extend this commitment to a full academic year and to establish a continual ambassador at the University of Southampton; as well as developing the initiative to other further education establishments throughout Hampshire.

2.3

Road Safety

Following on from work within the Chief Fire Officer's Association (CFOA) Road Safety Practitioners Group, a Road Safety Practitioners Forum has been initiated within the Service. The purpose of this forum is to co-ordinate road safety work within HFRS and with external partners and to pool resources and share good practice. The first task of the forum is to devise young driver package for station personnel. This supports the position of the Group Managers on their local Road Safety Councils.

An extrication demonstration was carried out to 6 colleges as part of joint venture with Hampshire Road Safety Team and local stations. We are currently evaluating this event with the intention to plan further dates with local station involvement.

2.4

Awareness Campaigns

The National Community Fire Safety Centre (NCFSC) appointed a specialist Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) media agency (Media Moguls) to place messages in the national minority media and in support of this local press releases and radio interviews were promulgated to promote the safety messages.

A media campaign of  local press releases and radio interviews took place in November to raise awareness on the Safe use of Fireworks and again in December to raise awareness of the seasonal celebrations. This is set to continue into January with the Chinese New Year.

2.5

HFRS Strategy for Children and Young People 2006-2009

Following the introduction of the National Strategy HFRS has now launched their own 3 year, business level strategy that will ensure the Service's activity is in line with and supporting the National Strategy for Children and Young People 2006-2010, Department for Education and Skills (DFES) `Every Child Matters' and the HFRS Integrated Risk Management Plan. The strategy will be disseminated to all stakeholders in youth engagement to provide more precise direction for our activity in the medium term.

An immediate effect of defining the strategy is the invitation to children and young people to actively participate in the decision making processes the Service's youth engagement work.   The Chairperson of the Hampshire County Youth Council (HCYC) has also invited the Youth Engagement Managers to represent HFRS at their Quarterly meetings. 

There has already been a considerable amount of good work within the Service working with both children and young people. Alliances are being forged at all levels in order to nurture `Safer Communities Partnerships' with  Group Managers and station personnel regularly working in close partnership with a variety of external agency representatives. These include Youth Offending Teams, Hampshire Police, Local Education Authority (LEA), Social Services, Youth Inclusion Support Panels (YISP) and Supporting Others through Volunteer Action (SOVA).

2.6

Child Protection Liaison Officers (CPLO)

The Service is currently running a 6 month pilot on the use of CPLOs to provide support for front line staff who encounter children at risk . The purpose of this service is to assure the safety of HFRS staff, and the children with whom we engage and adhere to both the Children's Act 2006 and the Protection of Children Act 1999. Since the launch of the pilot in November 2006 the CPLO's have received a number of requests for advice and 2 cases have been referred to Social Services.

2.7

Local Intervention Fire Education (LiFE)

A small team of dedicated LiFE instructors has been brought together to meet a peak in demand. The team will deliver 8 courses (including one on the Isle of Wight) prior to the close of the financial year. Those which have already been delivered have received very positive feedback from Group Managers.

2.8

Firesetter Intervention Scheme (FIS)

The FIS Team is now fully operational and has dealt with more than 50 referrals since December. It is planned for this team to benefit from efficiency savings and improvements in effectiveness through the use of a "mobile working solution" (similar to that being adopted by Technical Fire Safety) and a 2 month equipment trial is currently underway.

2.9

Arson Task Force (ATF)

Although still at an embryonic stage in it's overall development, to date, the Arson Task Force has been operationally deployed to work alongside HFRS Fire Investigators and Hampshire Constabulary Crime Scene Investigators on 14 occasions. The additional support of the ATF at these incidents has markedly enhanced the effective investigation of arson, to produce the 11 arrests as follows:

· 5 persons charged with arson with intent to endanger life (4 on remand awaiting trial)

· 1 person charged with arson

· 1 person returned to prison under a Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangement

· 4 persons arrested and still under investigation

These early successes, represent a tangible reduction in risk to life and damage to property by arson within the communities of Hampshire.

Operational deployment however, is only one sphere of activity that the ATF are expected to fulfil. To date the team have also delivered education programmes aimed at improving fire scene evidence preservation to HFRS and Hampshire Constabulary personnel and raised the awareness of the ATF and arson reduction measures, through media and marketing initiatives and at various public events. The capability of the ATF will shortly be improved further by the appointment of an appropriately qualified Police Officer to the Team.

2.10

Fire And Arson Support Unit (FASU)

The role of the Community Support Team has been altered to allow them to work more closely in support of Fire Investigators and the ATF. The previous work load of the CST, carrying out HFSVs in rural areas, has been under decline as Firefighters on the Retained Duty System have started to deliver HFSVs. This change allows the Service to meet the workload attached to the increasing levels of collaboration with the Police. It supports the ambition to improve detection and prosecution rates of arsonists.

To recognise the refocus of activity the team has changed their name to the FASU.

2.11

Schools Education

During this quarter the school's education team worked with a total of 15,294

main stream pupils in Key Stages 1,2 & 3. The team are continuing to make more contact with special needs and private schools. By adapting our education programme, we are enabling more children to have access to the valuable fire safety and road safety lessons

.

In December 2006 HFRS and the Children's Fire & Burn Trust fundraising committee hosted another successful children's party to raise awareness of the charity and it's aims.

Final arrangements are being made for a celebration on 2^nd February2007. This is in recognition of work carried out by the HFRS Schools' Team over the last 10 years.

2.12

Domestic and Residential Sprinklers

Following on from the successful demonstration of domestic sprinklers at Bishops Green in November 2006 an educational and promotional DVD is being produced. The DVD will allow the Service to influence partners in the risk management of domestic and residential premises to consider the use of a water suppression system in their fire safety solutions.

3

Protecting

3.1

The partnership with HCC has been reviewed after the first year of the formal action plan. The new action plan for 07/08 expands the scope to cover enforcement, formal consultation, advice, training and arson reduction.

3.2

The Business Education Team has now relocated to Service Headquarters and has become an integral part of the Protection function. The focal point of the teams activity has become information and advice to businesses regarding fire safety legislation and over 500 business representatives have attended briefings on the new fire safety order.

3.3

Following the successful implementation of the CFOA policy on AFA reduction by HFRS the authority is now one of the best performing in our `family group'. Because of the success the Station Manager who leads on AFA reduction was invited to the Fire Service College to sit on the working group that reviews the CFOA policy on automatic fire alarms.

4

Group Activity

Preventing

Fire and Arson Support Unit:

Number of dwelling fires attended:

Number of properties visited:

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

7

166

1

Operational Crews:

Number of Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number of smoke detectors fitted:

452

911

Protecting

Arson Prevention: A memorandum of understanding has been drawn up between the local authority and HFRS Operational and Technical Fire Safety Departments. The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to assist in formulating an effective combined strategy to:

· Set up working partnerships with other interested agencies/authorities including housing associations, Police, Building Controls, Housing Enforcement, Education and any other relevant group/organisation.

· Identify the number of unoccupied properties within the borough with a view to bringing them back into use.

· Identify the areas where arson and anti-social behaviour are most prevalent.

· Prioritise the unoccupied properties according to risk.

· Secure derelict/unoccupied premises based on an agreed protocol.

Sprinklers: A Live burn took place at Bishops Green in November to demonstrate effectiveness of domestic sprinklers. This was well received by all that attended.

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety)Order: Talks and seminar being held to assist the business of awareness of the new Order at Festival Place on a monthly basis.

As of the end of this quarter there were 6 Enforcement Notices in force in this area.

Responding

No significant activity.

Preventing

Fire and Arson Support Unit:

Number of dwelling fires attended:

Number of properties visited:

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

5

63

0

Operational Crews:

Number of Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number of smoke detectors fitted:

689

970

Protecting

Arson and Risk Reduction: Since the last report we have continued targeting all high risk category premises partnership with local authorities and agencies.

Ongoing meetings with Rushmoor Borough Council PESAG (Public Events Safety Advisory Group): Preliminary discussions with the organisers of 2 major events in July 2007.

Working with the operations Group Manager and the Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) reduction team to target and conduct Fire Safety Audits on all multiple AFA offenders has now been completed and a report submitted.

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order: We have programmed a series of RRO familiarisation and post incident protocols lectures to Rushmoor and Hart area fire station personnel. To date Fleet, Yateley and Odiham retained stations and one watch at Rushmoor fire Station have been completed.

Responding

No significant activity.

Preventing

Fire and Arson Support Unit:

Number of dwelling fires attended:

Number of properties visited:

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

3

56

2

Operational Crews:

Number of Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number of smoke detectors fitted:

245

738

Protecting

Enforcement action in the area has increased slightly in the last few months, due in part to themed inspections on public houses. A lot of the older established premises are failing inspection due to their layout and the landlords being unaware of their new responsibilities under the Fire Safety Order. This latter reason is a common failure in all regions and is not limited to East Hants.

Responding

No significant activity.

Preventing

Fire and Arson Support Unit:

Number of dwelling fires attended:

Number of properties visited:

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

4

69

1

Operational Crews:

Number of Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number of smoke detectors fitted:

555

1228

Protecting

Although the usual inspection activity has been carried out in Fareham and Gosport any contraventions that have been found have been of a minor nature. Only the lowest level of enforcement action has been taken and no Enforcement Notices were issued during this period.

Responding

16 December 2006: An elderly female occupier was rescued by HFRS crews from a fire at Trafalgar Court in Fareham. Unfortunately, the lady subsequently perished as a result of her injuries.

Preventing

Fire and Arson Support Unit:

Number of dwelling fires attended:

Number of properties visited:

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

28

597

12

Operational Crews:

Number of Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number of smoke detectors fitted:

1075

3345

Protecting

Portsmouth

The second stage of our Diversity Strategy is now underway. We have identified 14 representatives from various ethnic groups who will undergo training so that they will be able to give advice on the completion of fire risk assessments. The training will commence later this month and follows on from the successful seminars that were held for Chinese business leaders last year.

The first round of visits to licensed premises under the `Best Bar None' scheme started just before Christmas. The aim of the scheme is to raise standards and reward good and safe licensed venues, whilst providing an opportunity for the local authority, police and fire service to work in a positive partnership with the licensing trade. Unfortunately, the first 2 premises to be visited had contraventions of fire safety standards which could not be ignored and enforcement action was taken against the landlords.

Havant

Following complaints from some residents, joint inspections of shared housing has been taking place with police and housing officers. Complaints ranging from vandalism to concerns over fire safety were investigated. Although no official action was take by HFRS, advice on fire safety issues was given to housing officials and residents.

Responding

No significant activity.

Preventing

Fire and Arson Support Unit:

Number of dwelling fires attended:

Number of properties visited:

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

9

204

8

Operational Crews:

Number of Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number of smoke detectors fitted:

312

726

Protecting

Arson and risk reduction: The Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market and Ice Rink which runs from 1 December to 7 January necessitated Winchester Fire Safety Inspectors working together with the Station Manager of Winchester Fire Station as well as other agencies - Environmental Health, Licensing, Police, Winchester City Council. Early reports are that this venture has been a resounding success.

Over the Christmas period we visited many licensed premises checking their arrangements for managing the number of customers on the premises, available fire exits, staff training and arson prevention arrangements.

We have recently been experiencing a substantial number of arson incidents in the city. Fire safety inspectors from Winchester have been working with the fire station personnel to combat this problem and put in place plans to raise awareness amongst the business community. The number of incidents have now considerably reduced.

Responding

No significant activity.

Preventing

Fire and Arson Support Unit:

Number of dwelling fires attended:

Number of properties visited:

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

8

99

10

Operational Crews:

Number of Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number of smoke detectors fitted:

534

1110

Protecting

Test Valley

Arson and Risk reduction: Throughout the run up to the festive season, the Test Valley Office has carried out unannounced inspections on licensed premises. This project has been very successful in reducing the risk to premises during a typically vulnerable time. In the light of the success of this project, it is proposed to carry out a similar inspection programme for the retail industry during the post Christmas period.

Sprinklers: Major developments: Two large warehouses are ongoing and awaiting architects responses. These will require sprinkler provision or engineered solution for high bay storage.

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 Article 31 Notices/ Enforcements:

1 Prohibition Notices and 2 Enforcements Notices have been issued during this period

Eastleigh

During the period 3 enforcement notices and 1 prohibition have been served on premises within the Eastleigh area.

Responding

29 January 2007: A fire in a chimney of a thatched property in the village of St Mary Bourne near Whitchurch quickly spread to the roof. The first pump in attendance made pumps up to 6 immediately on arrival and then to 8, 12 and 16. The fire spread to the roofs of the terrace of 3 thatched cottages 50 metres by 8 metres and all suffered severe fire damage. During the protracted firefighting operation 9 jets, 3 hosereels and 62 BA were deployed. Pumps were mobilised from all areas of the county including stations as far distant away as Fareham, St Marys, Petersfield, Totton and Ringwood to supply relief crews over a 24 hour period. The Control Room were extremely busy balancing resources around the county as in addition to the actual mobilisations to the fire, a total of 17 standby moves were also made to ensure fire cover could be maintained throughout the period.

Preventing

Fire and Arson Support Unit:

Number of dwelling fires attended:

Number of properties visited:

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

23

421

8

Operational Crews:

Number of Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number of smoke detectors fitted:

1044

2153

Protecting

During the period 16 enforcement notices have been served on premises and 2 cases have been referred for further investigation within Southampton.

Continuing from the last report, progress has been made on the sprinkler project. Consultation continues with the owner of the HMO's, HFRS and the local authority. This involves approximately 120 HMO's in Southampton with an additional one being opened each month. The owner is still committed to implement sprinkler protection in new and refurbished properties.

Further cross functional working between Technical Fire Safety and St Marys fire station is progressing to co-ordinate Home Fire Safety Visit data with TFS data for HMO premises to correctly risk assess and prioritise this group for inspection. Once completed this methodology will be expanded across the county.

Following the initial meeting between HFRS and Southampton City Council (SCC), to initiate the formation of a formal partnership between the 2 parties, HFRS and SCC continue to work towards the partnership.

Discussions continue between HFRS and SCC regarding heritage buildings within the city, in particular the timber framed `Tudor House' currently under refurbishment. Other buildings presenting similar problems have now been identified by TFS inspectors with liaison is continuing.

The partnership agreement between HFRS and the West Quay management team has now been signed.

West Quay Phase III - Alternative proposals and a feasibility study are in progress with TFS Officers. Carnival Cruises Building - Consultations are progressing into the development of this prestigious office building.

Continuing with the HFRS policy on BME and diversity, with greater liaison and consultation with ethnic groups a small number specific buildings have now been identified as being suitable for initial Fire Safety Audits in close liaison with community and business leaders.

Responding

2 December 2006: An intense fire in a pile of scrap metal and machinery 40 metres by 40 metres, required pumps to be made up to 4 with additional requests for a Multi Role Vehicle with hose load, Aerial Ladder Platform for water monitor and a Water Carrier. Three water monitors and 2 jets were used to contain the fire and contractors used machinery to turn the burning material over. As vast quantities of water were being used, the decision was made to mobilise the High Volume Pumping Unit which could support the monitors and jets that were being deployed at the scene. This enabled a number of pumping appliances to be released from the incident and reduce the personnel in attendance. The fire was finally extinguished more than 24 hours after the initial call.

7 December 2006: Four pumps and special appliances were mobilised to deal with a serious house fire with persons reported in Marston Road, Thornhill, Southampton. A number of residents were forced to leave the terraced property as a result of the fire and smoke and HFRS crews rescued 3 persons and carried out first aid before they were removed to hospital. An extensive fire investigation utilising a sniffer dog was carried out to ascertain the cause.

19 December 2006: Crews mobilised to a serious fire in a ground floor flat in Wimpson Lane, Southampton, found that persons were trapped inside the smoke filled building. Ten BA, 1 jet and 2 hosereels were used to bring the fire under control as one female was rescued from the flat and 4 adults and 3 children were led to safety down ladders from adjacent flats.

22 December 2006: The Fire Control Operator who took a fire call to Vinery House, Winchester Road, Southampton, gave extensive `fire survival' advice to the distressed female caller. She was able to calm the caller down, establish exactly where in the property the fire was, and advised her to close doors and place material at the bottom of the door to stop smoke entering the room she was in. She provided advice to sustain the caller until the fire crews booked in attendance. The serious flat fire was extinguished using 2 hosereels and 8 BA and the caller was rescued by ladder with 8 other residents being led to safety from the other flats.

Preventing

Fire and Arson Support Unit:

Number of dwelling fires attended:

Number of properties visited:

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

4

42

0

Operational Crews:

Number of Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number of smoke detectors fitted:

90

214

Protecting

Both New Forest North and South areas are covered from the Lyndhurst fire safety office.

A Safety Advisory Group (SAG) has now been established in the New Forest and HFRS are represented on the group by inspectors from West Group TFS.

The Premises Risk Management Plans for Breamore House north of Fordingbridge and Mottisfont Abbey House north of Romsey continue to be developed.

Responding

No significant activity.

Preventing

Fire and Arson Support Unit:

Number of dwelling fires attended:

Number of properties visited:

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

5

49

4

Operational Crews:

Number of Home Fire Safety Visits:

Number of smoke detectors fitted:

150

308

Protecting

Consultation between HFRS and the fire safety department at the Esso Refinery at Fawley continues, regarding the introduction of new fire safety legislation in October 2006 when enforcement responsibility for non-process buildings transferred from the HSE to HFRS.

Consultations continue in respect of the proposed new power station at Marchwood. This will be a lengthy process due to the complexity of the project and HFRS will remain involved throughout.

The new Lymington Hospital has now reached completion and officers from the Lyndhurst fire safety office have now completed the work together with the Ops group managers and hospital management to ensure all fire safety requirements are implemented. The Hospital has gone into full use during the Christmas/New Year Period.

Responding

No significant activity.