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THE MODERNISATION of the UK fire and rescue service has brought an increasing focus by local fire services on prevention. It has proved very successful in terms of saving life, reducing injury and protecting property. In 2004, the number of accidental fires in dwellings decreased by 4%, compared to the previous year, and fire-related deaths fell by 14%.
In spite of this progress, there is still more that can be achieved. Although cigarettes and smoking-related materials are declining as a cause of fires, they continue to cause a significant number of accidental fires and related injuries. Too many children still die as a result of fire (there are about 50 such deaths each year) and many more suffer injury. Strikingly, 80% of all casualties are still due to fires in homes.
Given this situation, the housing sector is a crucial partner for the fire and rescue service in driving forward fire prevention. Many residents in the social housing sector are among those who, statistically, are most at risk of fire-related death or injury. This includes the elderly and children in economically inactive households – as Government figures show, 30% of those in social rented accommodation in 2006 were retired and 36% were economically inactive or unemployed.
Valuable partners
Providers in the sector have already proved valuable partners in key prevention campaigns, including the installation and maintenance of effective smoke alarms. They have strong networks with tenants and residents – for example, meetings with residents groups, and use of common rooms and community halls – through which the fire service can raise awareness of the common causes of fire and how to minimise the dangers. This is particularly important for fire services wanting to reach into areas of deprivation and to groups that may be difficult to engage with, where the risk of fire is even more acute. Authorities and housing provider partners are embedded in communities through the refurbishment of the housing and frequently wider community work as well.
In addition, housing strategists in local authorities can provide ways to connect with people in private sector housing – both owner occupiers and those in private rented accommodation. Teams involved in enforcing the Health and Housing Safety Rating System (FP&FEJ, July 2005, p.20) and in licensing houses of multiple occupation can be invaluable sources of information on risk and can provide introductions to other potentially vulnerable groups.
Housing providers work with some of the most vulnerable groups in communities, either directly by providing housing-related support services, or in partnership with local voluntary and community groups. For all of these reasons, they should be key stakeholders consulted on fire service integrated risk management plans.
The challenge remains for local fire services in how to engage most effectively with these key partners. There are often a number of providers of housing and related support in an area; including all in ongoing contact and in the planning of risk management can be a big ‘ask’. However, the recent local government White Paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities, has given a renewed emphasis to the developing framework for engagement at local level that should make this more straightforward. The White Paper also has the potential to support the fire service in increasing its proactive focus on prevention through better partnership working.
The fire and rescue service is likely to be one of the public bodies required to cooperate in the development of Local Area Agreements (LAAs) – the primary vehicle to take forward priorities identified in a local area’s Sustainable Community Strategy. This means that there is the potential to increase engagement with key local stakeholders – including housing providers and community and voluntary groups – that could enable the service to reach more of the groups that are vulnerable to risk from fire, or who may have been more difficult to reach previously. In future, LAAs will have a greater focus on pooling resources; the fire service is vital to achieving strong and safer communities, and benefits could arise not only from the partnerships but also from better, more effective use and targeting of funding streams to achieve it.
The White Paper raises the bar for all those providing public services to be more responsive and accountable to the communities they serve. Benefiting from the strong links between housing professionals and those communities is an opportunity that should not be missed.
Sarah Davis is senior policy officer with the Chartered Institute of Housing
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