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| Fire service modernisation plan | Fire service modernisation plan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Plans to modernise the North Wales Fire Service, which has Wales' highest fire death rate, are being put forward. | Plans to modernise the North Wales Fire Service, which has Wales' highest fire death rate, are being put forward. |
| These include teaching fire safety and cutting the number of times crews are called to automatic fire alarms. | These include teaching fire safety and cutting the number of times crews are called to automatic fire alarms. |
| The fire service said they hope the strategy will make the most efficient use of their time and resources. | The fire service said they hope the strategy will make the most efficient use of their time and resources. |
| Unions claim firefighters' jobs will be lost under the action plan but the service denies there is an intention to reduce engine crewing levels. | Unions claim firefighters' jobs will be lost under the action plan but the service denies there is an intention to reduce engine crewing levels. |
| Ten people died in fires in the North Wales Fire Service area between April 2006 and March 2007, a figure which has been criticised by the region's chief fire officer as "totally unacceptable". | Ten people died in fires in the North Wales Fire Service area between April 2006 and March 2007, a figure which has been criticised by the region's chief fire officer as "totally unacceptable". |
| In the service's annual action plan, which will be discussed by the authority's executive panel later, there is extra emphasis on preventing fires from spreading in the first place. | In the service's annual action plan, which will be discussed by the authority's executive panel later, there is extra emphasis on preventing fires from spreading in the first place. |
| The only noticeable difference for the public will be an increase in community fire safety work Colin Hanks, Assistant Chief Fire Officer | The only noticeable difference for the public will be an increase in community fire safety work Colin Hanks, Assistant Chief Fire Officer |
| The proposals include more emphasis on working in the community on fire prevention work, cutting the number of times crews are called to automatic fire alarms, and introducing new rotas for full-time firefighters. | The proposals include more emphasis on working in the community on fire prevention work, cutting the number of times crews are called to automatic fire alarms, and introducing new rotas for full-time firefighters. |
| Colin Hanks, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Service Support said the plans had been formulated to "create a modern, efficient Service that offers the best service possible to all of those who live, travel and work in North Wales". | Colin Hanks, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Service Support said the plans had been formulated to "create a modern, efficient Service that offers the best service possible to all of those who live, travel and work in North Wales". |
| He said the service was providing free smoke detectors and fire safety advice to 30,000 homes this year and would continue this service for the next 10 years. | He said the service was providing free smoke detectors and fire safety advice to 30,000 homes this year and would continue this service for the next 10 years. |
| "In order to do this, we will be redeploying staff to make the most efficient use of their time and our resources," said Mr Hanks. | "In order to do this, we will be redeploying staff to make the most efficient use of their time and our resources," said Mr Hanks. |
| Crewing levels | Crewing levels |
| "Our new system of rostering whole-time firefighters will ensure the correct number of firefighters are available to attend emergency incidents. | |
| "There will not be any deterioration in emergency response from using the new rostering system. | "There will not be any deterioration in emergency response from using the new rostering system. |
| "There is no intention whatsoever in this draft action plan to reduce crewing levels on fire engines - a point which should provide real reassurance for the members of the public. The only noticeable difference for the public will be an increase in community fire safety work. | "There is no intention whatsoever in this draft action plan to reduce crewing levels on fire engines - a point which should provide real reassurance for the members of the public. The only noticeable difference for the public will be an increase in community fire safety work. |
| Mr Hanks said they want to cut the number of times they are called to false alarm calls generated by automatic fire alarms. | Mr Hanks said they want to cut the number of times they are called to false alarm calls generated by automatic fire alarms. |
| He said: "Such calls, which average eight per day, represent a waste of time and money and needlessly place the lives of our firefighters and the public in danger. | |
| But the Fire Brigades Union said the action plan was appallingly poor and contained no detail. | |
| It said 29 firefighters would lose their jobs under the proposals, which would leave the service running with a bare minimum of staff. | |
| John Purser, brigade secretary for the union in north Wales, said "At the moment, we only have 212 whole-time fire fighters in north Wales who actually go to fires. | |
| "Those 29 posts would be lost for good and it's going to severely affect fire cover in north Wales." | |
| He said the union accepted that the fire service had to be both pro-active and reactive in its responses, but added "but until we've got proper fire precautions in the home, i.e. sprinklers, we're always going to need the fire service". |