Frontline community safety staff from Caerphilly county borough have received fire prevention training – the first of its kind in Wales.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, a key member of the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership, has provided a comprehensive programme of fire prevention and arson reduction training to front line staff including the Council’s Community Safety Wardens, community safety staff and some officers from Gwent Police.
The aim of the training programme is to provide frontline professionals with the basic skills and knowledge to spot potential opportunities for arson and fire hazards before they occur, as it is these people that regularly attend the homes of members of the public as part of their day-to-day work.
Rob Morris, Group Manager for Community Safety at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said, “I am delighted with Caerphilly’s approach to partnership working – they are in fact the first area in Wales to establish a multi-agency Fire Safety Action Team. We therefore believed that Caerphilly would be the perfect pilot area for our multi-agency fire prevention training”.
He continued, “We are not of course asking those having received our training to go out and fight fires – we are simply looking for them to work with us to help get key fire prevention messages out into the community and identify possible opportunities for arson before they occur”.
“We hope to expand this training opportunity to other areas across South Wales in the near future”.
The training will help officers to spot hazards in the homes of members of the public such as obstructed doorways and be alert to those homes without smoke alarms – a visit by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service to conduct a free home fire safety check and/or install smoke alarms can then be arranged.
The training also provided information for those out and about in the community as part of their job such as Community Safety Wardens. They learned what to do should they come across potential fire hazards such gas cylinders and bonfires.
Rob Morris continued, “The more people that are appropriately trained to spot potential fire hazards and to advise the public on simple fire prevention measures can only be a good thing in helping to make our communities even safer.”
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, Cabinet Member for the Environment said, “The fact that a number of our front line officers are now equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide simple fire safety advice to some of the most vulnerable members of our community is very reassuring for them. Simple advice such as installing a smoke alarm can make a very big difference”.
To arrange a FREE home fire safety check call South Wales Fire and Rescue Service on 0800 169 1234.
