Nick James, Group Manager Operations East Division, Chris Colgan, Manager, Risk Management Team and Richard Baugh, Team Leader, Risk Management Team will give a presentation on the KFRS draft 2010/2013 Integrated Risk Management Plan titled Making Kent Safer, which outlines plans to improve the services KFRS delivers to the community. Currently KFRS is consulting on the initial outcomes of a rolling review of emergency cover and Thanet is one of the first two areas it has looked at. Nick, Chris and Richard will talk about how the fire and rescue service intends to change the services it provides the community and focus upon what needs to be done in the future to reduce risk to life and make the best use of resources.
Minutes:
Nick James thanked the board for inviting KFRS to present its Making Kent Safer Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) and introduced his colleagues, Chris Colgan, Manager and Richard Baugh, Team Leader, both from the KFRS Risk Management Team.
The concept of the IRMP came out as the result of a national dispute in 2003 when it became clear that central government had not given enough guidance on what they expected of the fire service. While a national framework was necessary for national level issues such as terrorism, it became evident that there was a real need for the local fire services to engage with their local communities and shape their responses accordingly, rather than have a national ‘one size fits all’ approach.
The 2010/2013 IRMP sets out what KFRS needs to do for local Thanet residents. It is a rolling review of all emergency response, not just fire cover and includes flooding, road traffic accidents, etc. The plan is supported by extensive research and feedback from consultation (that ended in January ‘10). Local people were also invited to comment at a feedback event held at the Thanet Gateway in December ‘09. Previous reviews have looked at the possibility of redeploying some fire engines and special appliances to maximise their efficiency. By involving local staff with local expertise, the Risk Management Team can respond to any changes in local risks and look at how these and any new proposals, would impact on the strategic cover for the whole service.
A DVD was shown that highlighted the need for KFRS to put itself in the best position to serve Kent residents over the next 5, 10 and 15 years and identify how risk can be reduced. By working with local people in Thanet, risk areas can be identified and assessed, for example, vulnerable people, harbours, airports, chemical plants and comparisons made by analysing the number of incidents and trends over the past five years.
Kent has 86 fire engines and six are in Thanet. Thanet has four fire stations, Margate, Ramsgate, Thanet and Westgate and a key proposal for emergency response provision is the potential to manage these as a single group, including the search for a site to replace Ramsgate fire station. (Ramsgate still needs a fire station, but the existing building is listed and not fit for purpose as it was designed for a horse and cart, not a modern day appliance.)
Manston has its own fire station and there is good partnership working and some cross-over but only inside the airport boundary. To deal with large fires like the one at Kingsnorth Power Station in January, the government brings in assistance from other local authorities, in this instance Essex.
The Risk Management Team use computer generated models to gain accurate information on journey times that include traffic congestion likely at certain times of the day, so that appliances can get to incidents quickly. The team also has information on population density as there is a higher incidence of domestic fires in areas that are highly populated, particularly in parts of Ramsgate and Margate. These areas can also be targeted by community information programmes to raise awareness on fire prevention by using smoke alarms and sprinklers.
If you would like a copy of Nick James’ presentation which gives further information on fire service provision in Thanet, please contact anne.charman@kent.gov.uk .
Q. When considering fire service provision, do financial constraints come into consideration?
A. Although there is pressure to reduce costs, the key driver is to reduce risk and save lives, not save money.
Q. How do you deal with tower blocks?
A. High rise building incidents do need greater resources and local areas work as national groups, looking at different planning scenarios to ensure there is enough specialist equipment available.
Q. Do you use dry risers in high buildings and undertake regular safety checks as this would save putting hoses up the side?
A. Yes and they are checked regularly.
Mr Hayton thanked Nick for his presentation and invited Nick and his team to come back to update the board at a future meeting. Although the consultation had closed in January, Mr Hayton also invited the audience to send any comments to the Board, as three of the Thanet county councillors were also Kent & Medway Fire Rescue Authority members.