Thursday 30
August
13.00hrs
Firefighters in Bristol are employing pedal power in a bid to
engage with local people and reduce the number of nuisance fires in
the city.
From this week, off-duty firefighters from stations in
Bedminster and Southmead will be taking to new mountain bikes
provided by Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) to visit
local neighbourhoods. The riders will provide a visible presence,
meeting residents and offering fire safety advice.
The firefighters will also be putting their expert knowledge to
use by alerting the relevant agencies if they come across piles of
rubbish, grass cuttings or vulnerable buildings and vehicles - all
of which are popular targets for arsonists.
The trial scheme is being launched in Hartcliffe and Southmead
where so-called nuisance fires are a particular problem.
Officers from AF&RS hope that the multi-agency approach, to
remove arson targets from streets and public places, will lead to a
reduction in the number of deliberately started fires.
Station Manager Graeme Watson from AF&RS said: “Although we
would refer to them as nuisance fires, they nonetheless represent a
significant drain on our resources and pose a real threat to life
and property. Unfortunately it’s all too easy for a fire started in
rubbish or a derelict building to spread and put people’s lives in
danger.
“Anything we can do to stop these fires happening in the first
place is obviously good news, both in terms of public safety and
the positive impact it will have on these communities.”
As part of their new role the firefighters on bikes will also be
engaging with local youngsters, visiting community groups and
carrying out safety leaflet drops in streets that have suffered
house fires.
Station Manager Watson added: “Many of our firefighters not only
work in these communities, but also live there, so getting our
faces known and taking steps to affect positive change is something
that is close to our hearts.”
The project is being trialled for the next four weeks and, if
successful, will be run during school holidays when most nuisance
fires occur. It is being led by firefighters from Southmead and
Bedminster Fire Stations with the assistance of Avon Fire &
Rescue Service’s Arson Task Force (ATF) and the support of Avon and
Somerset Constabulary and local neighbourhood
managers.