The year in numbers at Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue

The service has revealed stats as part of an annual review

Author: Faye TryhornPublished 17th Jun 2024
Last updated 17th Jun 2024

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has been revealing some of the numbers behind their last year, as part of an annual performance review.

They've shared the details for 2023-24 to the area's Fire Service Authority.

Within the stats, they've said over 7,700 Safe and Well visits have been carried out - they're carried out by firefighters for free, at vulnerable households.

That's directly led to a 10% drop in accidental fires locally, compared to the five year average.

They've also made more than 920 fire safety audits at properties since the devastating Grenfell Tower blaze seven years ago.

Response times have also improve, with an average call-out time to a fire in a 'sleeping risk premises' clocked at 9 minutes and 31 seconds last year, against a 10 minute target.

Solar panels have been installed at five DWFRS sites, with plans to increase the number included over the next few years.

Chief Fire Officer, Ben Ansell QFSM said:

“It has been a busy and challenging year for the organisation, but staff across the Service have and continue to go above and beyond to help their communities. We continue to operate in a challenging financial climate, and we are now faced with some serious and difficult decisions in order to maintain a balanced budget.

The fantastic staff we have are vital to ensuring we keep our communities safe, whether at home, at work or on our roads. I look forward to working with all members of the Fire and Rescue Authority to ensure we do our utmost to build on the great work that our wonderful staff continue to deliver.”

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