Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service issued urgent warning over fire prevention concerns
HMICFRS are raising concerns over Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's insufficient fire prevention efforts, calling for immediate action and close monitoring
Last updated 24th Oct 2024
The fire inspectorate has issued an accelerated cause of concern over Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's failure to prioritise fire prevention activities.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has called for immediate action after finding that fire prevention is not given sufficient priority by the service. It has recommended a review of how the service carries out prevention work, including a focus on home fire safety checks for those most at risk.
The inspectorate said that the service needs to establish a robust system to identify risk and vulnerability within the community. It also called for improvements in staff training to ensure all personnel fully understand their role in fire prevention.
HMICFRS has issued an accelerated cause of concern, a process used when failures in service raise immediate concerns about public safety. The inspectorate normally provides details of such issues in service reports, but in this case, the concern was deemed too serious to delay.
Lee Freeman, His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services, said: "We have serious concerns about an aspect of Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s performance, which is putting public safety at risk."
Freeman added: "The service must create a robust system to define levels of risk and prioritise home fire safety checks to those most at risk in a timely manner."
The inspectorate has made five recommendations, including the development of a prevention strategy focused on those most at risk of fire, the establishment of clear timeframes for safety checks, and the provision of sufficient resources to carry out prevention activities. It also suggested that wholetime and on-call firefighters could be used to increase capacity for prevention work.
HMICFRS will monitor the service closely to ensure progress is made in addressing these concerns.
Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Alex Woodman, said:
“We take the concerns raised by the Inspectorate very seriously and the issues raised will be resolved thoroughly, quickly and transparently.
“More than 1.2 million people living, working, and visiting Hertfordshire rely on us to keep them safe, and to save lives. It is an extremely important role, and we know that fire prevention is a key part of protecting our communities from harm.
"Last year Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service received nearly 26,000 calls for help, and our crews responded to over 11,000 emergencies and incidents. Additionally, crews and colleagues visited thousands of homes to offer advice and support to those who may be more vulnerable to fire in their homes as part of our Home Fire Safety Visits.
“I’m proud of our service and the dedication of those who work here – we have already been taking big steps to reduce risks and prevent incidents in Hertfordshire. I recognise we need to be better and we will work closely with HMCIFRS to ensure the recommendations are actioned and we’ll share updates on progress with the public on our website.”