Following the Government’s announcement on 4 January about a third national lockdown, we’ve had to make many changes as a fire and rescue service.
One thing that hasn’t changed however is our operational response. Day or night, pandemic or not, our crews continue to ensure that the communities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland stay safe.
Our firefighters are following all guidance by remaining two metres apart where possible and wearing face coverings.
Callum Faint, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, said: “Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve continued to provide a very high level of operational availability and we continue to mobilise to all call types that we did previously. This, along with our ongoing prevention and protection work, is something we are incredibly proud of and will continue to do so throughout this lockdown. We remain ready, willing and able to support the community.”
Unfortunately, due to the new lockdown restrictions, there are a number of events and activities which can no longer go ahead such as our Biker Down events. Recruitment across the Service – for Wholetime Firefighters, On-Call Firefighters and Support Staff – will continue as this can be done in a COVID compliant way, and is essential to our business activity and operational duties.
Our community safety team will continue to carry out home safety checks – whether that be over the phone or socially distanced in person if the circumstances deem it necessary.
And as for the rest of our non-operational staff, anyone who can work from home will be now doing so. This means our Birstall Headquarters site is no longer publically accessible during the lockdown.
Callum added: “We are taking the coronavirus pandemic and this third national lockdown very seriously and will continue to do everything possible to protect our communities.
“We’re playing our part by staying at home where possible, maintaining a two metre social distance and wearing face coverings and we ask you to do the same. Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives.”
For further safety advice please visit leics-fire.gov.uk.
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 5768
