5th October 2011

WEST DORSET: Fire authorities are pleased with reduction in house fires

ACCIDENTAL dwelling fires (ADF) in Dorset have significantly reduced compared to the same quarter last year, the third consecutive quarter that Dorset Fire and Rescue Service has seen a reduction.

The trend was reported at the latest Dorset Fire Authority meeting held last week to consider the service’s quarterly monitoring report (QMR) for the first quarter, April 1st to June 30th of this year, where there were no accidental dwelling fire fatalities.

Chief Fire Officer, Darran Gunter, said: “I am extremely pleased with the outcomes of today’s quarterly monitoring report.

“The report shows that our efforts to educate our at risk and vulnerable communities is starting to have a positive effect. We cannot and will not let up in our pursuit to make the communities of Dorset safe from fire.”

Although a number of areas require additional focus and attention, longer term trends measured from 2005 onwards, continue to show improvement.

The authority agreed to conduct a second residents’ survey to establish trends across the county as part of the DFRS’s Community Safety Plan 2012-2017, the document which sets out the strategic priorities.

The survey asked users and residents of Dorset on funding issues to ensure that the level of council tax maintains the current standard of service delivery.

Chairman Cllr Rebecca Knox said: “I am really pleased the Fire Authority has continued to agree the strategic direction of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service.

“It is, once again, important to us to explain to our residents how we are funded and how we provide a high quality service to the communities of Dorset.

“It is also vital to us to explain the potential impact of budget reductions to Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and more importantly engage our communities on the fire and rescue service they require and are willing to pay for.”

Members also considered the impact of the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a new locally set charge which can be applied to most new development to help fund infrastructure changes, and agreed to press local authorities for DFRS to receive contributions from CIL to make sure that it can continue to provide the right balance of prevention, protection and response services to new and changing communities.

WEST DORSET: Fire authorities are pleased with reduction in house fires

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