Issued on: Thursday 25 July 2019

Firefighters Launch New Initiative in Melton and Rutland

Yesterday (Wednesday 24 July), a team of On-Call firefighters from Melton and Rutland Fire and Rescue Stations, launched a new initiative to help reduce the risk of fires in their communities. 

The new initiative will see On-Call firefighters on bikes in and around their local area, giving safety advice to residents that live in Melton Mowbray, Oakham and Uppingham.

The newly formed Community Fire Cycle Crew is a unique project ran by On-Call firefighters, who not only give up their time to attend emergency calls, but also provide the community with a wide range of advice on how they can stay safe.

The idea for the initiative came from On-Call firefighter Matt McMullan from Melton Mowbray Fire and Rescue Station. He said: “The role of a firefighter is changing and a large proportion of our role now involves key education and prevention work within our communities.  

“By being out and about on our bikes, it makes us highly visible and gives residents the chance to stop and speak to us about any fire or safety concerns they may have. As a team, we hope to build strong links within each of our communities, to help us achieve our overall goal of ‘safer people, safer places’.” 

The aim of the Community Fire Cycle Crew is to reduce the risk of fires in the home, as well as reducing the risk of accidental and deliberate fires in the community.

They will be offering Home Safety Checks to residents, and will fit smoke alarms in homes that do not have them, or in homes that have defective smoke alarms.

By going directly into residents homes to check on their safety, the team are able to make referrals to partner agency, First Contact Plus, for those who may need additional support to improve their overall wellbeing.

Another part of the Community Fire Cycle Crew’s remit will be to visit local youth groups to deliver key water, fire and road safety advice to young people. 

Matt McMullan added: “No matter how small the issue, we want to hear about it so we can help. Whether this is reporting fire safety concerns such as fly tipping, deliberate fire hot spots or just referring a friend or neighbour for a Home Safety Check or smoke alarm fitting, please get in touch.

“Together we can help to reduce the risk of deliberate and accidental fires in your community.”

To find out more about your local Community Fire Cycle Crew, follow them on social media;

Melton Mowbray

Oakham 

Uppingham

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
Interviews can be arranged through prior arrangement with Corporate Communications on the details below.

About the Service

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.

During 2018/19, the Service attended 762 road traffic collisions, of which 125 were extrications from vehicles, in addition to ­2,569 fires. We carried out 6,746 home safety checks and fitted 4,790 smoke alarms. 279 schools were visited as part of the Service’s schools programme, delivering fire and road safety education to pupils. Staff organised or took part in 1,068 community safety events, promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, and 134 Virtual Fatal Four (VF4) events as part of the Service’s young drivers’ road safety project. 

The Service’s prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents. In the last ten years, fire-related incidents have reduced by over 30 percent. 

Contact:
Corporate Communications
Direct: 0116 210 5592
corporate.communications@lfrs.org

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