Chief Fire Officer urges `extra care’ during strike – #takeextracare

The Chief Fire Officer of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is urging the public across the region to ‘take extra care’ in terms of fire safety in the home and road safety during strike action planned by firefighters.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) announced yesterday (17th September) that firefighters in England and Wales intend to take industrial action on Wednesday 25th September between midday and 4.00pm. 

 The number of firefighters from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service who are expected to make a protest by striking is high. This will mean a reduction in the resources that the fire and rescue service has at its disposal and, as a consequence, the Service will not be able to provide the same high level of response to fires and other emergencies that it normally would. The priority will be to respond to life critical incidents.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith reassured the public “North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has arrangements in place to continue to provide a service during strike action” but warned that, “because of the circumstances, services may be limited.”

 “The Service’s business continuity arrangements will ensure a speedy and safe return to normal services on conclusion of any period of industrial action.”

Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies, Chairman of North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Whilst the Fire and Rescue Authority understands the concerns of staff which have led to their decision to make a protest in this way, the Authority has a duty and an obligation to ensure that the provision of services to the public remains as unaffected as reasonably practicable. This is a dispute between the FBU and the Government in England and Wales over proposed changes to pension arrangements. These changes are affecting many people in a wide range of organisations across the public sector. However the Authority’s number one priority is to ensure public safety and a consistent public service.”

The Chief Fire Officer, Simon Smith, went on to say: “Unlike the dispute in 2002/3 support from the military in the form of Green Goddesses is no longer available to North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and our ability to provide a service to the public will be challenging. However, we will continue to respond to emergency calls by prioritising the deployment of the available resources at our disposal and focussing on the protection of life.”

In order to help people to prepare for taking extra care in terms of fire safety and to help reduce the risk to communities and businesses, safety advice and guidance will be provided via the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service website and social network sites on Facebook and Twitter (#takeextracare), as well as through the local news.

The Chief Fire Officer stressed the importance of the following advice in the event of a fire;

• Prevention is best – pay extra attention to fire safety in the home.
• If a fire does start – get out, stay out and call 999
• Don’t be tempted to tackle a fire yourself.

“Attention to fire safety in the home and road safety is of paramount importance, but even more so during these times,” he continued. “I would urge people to take simple steps to ensure their own safety, such as ensuring they have a working smoke alarm.

“If any member of the public needs to call us regarding a non-urgent matter during a period of industrial action then it would be helpful if they considered waiting until strike action ends to make that call.”