Engineering firm ULEMCo has partnered with Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service to develop a hydrogen fuel cell that will extend the range of specialist electric vehicles including fire engines, ambulances and street sweepers.

Following a successful research period, the government has now awarded ULEMCo £3.9m to develop the project and potentially produce a prototype. The project is worth £7.8m, with industry matching the government’s financial contribution.

Funding for the ‘HYER Power’ project has come through the Advanced Propulsion Centre Collaborative Research and Development programme, which supports ambitions to build an end to end supply chain for zero emission vehicles in the UK. It is part of a £77m investment in seven collaborative UK heavy duty and commercial vehicle projects.

Councillor Pete Sudbury, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment, said: “Hydrogen could play an important role in our efforts to decarbonise. I’m delighted that we are partnering with ULEMCo on this important step in exploring and advancing zero carbon solutions.”

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are absolutely committed to act towards our net zero target and building on the work we have already done to move part of our fleet away from internal combustion engines. Heavy fire engines pose a particular challenge and we feel that hydrogen powered fuel cells can play a promising role in delivering on the county’s climate action ambitions.”

Amanda Lyne, Managing Director of ULEMCo, said: “We are delighted to see this recognition and commitment to developing hydrogen mobility as part of the solution to net zero. Hydrogen is essential for viable zero emission solutions in applications such as emergency response vehicles due to the rapid refuelling that enables the vehicle to be ‘fit to go’, and to provide the full flexibility and range required for the job. Our strong relationship with Oxfordshire County Council will enable us to make rapid progress moving to production-ready hydrogen fuel cell designs.”

Nusrat Ghani, Minister for Industry and Investment Security, said: “This cutting-edge work is going to mean clean, green vehicles designed and built in the UK can increasingly take on the toughest jobs, from haulage to public transport. Our automotive industry keeps setting the pace globally when it comes to seizing the potential of new technologies. Today’s multi-million pound boost will help them stay ahead of the international competition, while continuing to support high quality jobs and economic growth.”

The research project, which was announced in 2021, involved creating a detailed model of the hydrogen energy requirement. This included the energy needed to pump water for a minimum of four hours, as well as the optimal range for such a vehicle.

The project comes as the county council works towards becoming a net zero carbon local authority by 2030 for its own operational emissions.

Other partners in the project with ULEMCo include Technical Services (UK) Ltd for cooling capability, Altair Ltd for vehicle energy system modelling, along with Emergency One for the fire engine solutions.

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Due to COVID-19, it will not be possible for residents to visit the test venue, but trading standards will collect blankets from each resident’s home, having posted a plastic bag and label in advance.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council's Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: "If the condition of a blanket is allowed to deteriorate there is the possibility it could become faulty, risking injury and fire. We want to ensure that electric blankets are still safe for use. The tests are free. But remember to pre-book!

“Testing electric blankets has taken place in Oxfordshire for over 20 years. The failure rate is still over 20 per cent. Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service has dealt with house fires started by old electric blankets in the past.”

The electric blanket safety check booking line and email will open from 12 July. Call 01865 895999 (option 1), or email: communityengagement@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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As part of its Fire Kills campaign, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is asking people to test their smoke alarms as part of a regular household routine.

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “Fire safety should be a priority for every resident. They should ensure they have enough smoke alarms in the home and that they work. Smoke alarms can give the vital extra seconds warning needed to escape a fire.

“Fire kills. Please take sensible safety precautions by fitting and regularly testing smoke alarms.”

While the majority of homes across the country now have alarms fitted, most people are not aware that the average alarm has a lifespan of just ten years and then needs replacing.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is asking people to make sure that their alarms are up to date and up to the job.

To keep alarms effective in working order:

• Make sure there is at least one smoke alarm on every level of the home.
• Test your smoke alarms by pushing the button at least once a month.
• Check that the smoke alarms are less than 10 years old.
• Change the batteries every year. Never remove them to use in other electrical items.
• Fit smoke alarms in the right place – on landings and hallways, as well as in rooms that are used regularly, such as rooms that are being used by a vulnerable person as a bedroom. Also consider fitting them in rooms that contain electrical appliances, such as a heater or a phone charger.
• Take a moment to check on loved ones who may need help to ensure they are fully protected with working smoke alarms.

Kevin Morgan, Community Safety Manager for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Smoke alarms can offer vital protection for you and your loved ones, but most people simply fit and forget – they don’t know if it might be coming to the end of its lifespan or not working at all.

“For most of us, there is nothing more important than keeping our loved ones safe and secure. So, if your alarm is getting past its best or your top floor is missing an alarm of its own, fit new ones, test them at least once a month and protect your loved ones.”

For further advice on fire safety visit www.365alive.co.uk email community.safety@oxfordshire.gov.uk or call 01865 895999.

Oxfordshire County Council is supporting the new national ‘Take Charge’ campaign, which calls on people to only dispose of dead batteries – dubbed ‘zombie batteries’ – by using specialist battery recycling services, and to never throw them away alongside general rubbish or other recycling.

Councillor Yvonne Constance, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Everyone can play their part in ensuring the safety of both the public and that of the staff working at our waste and recycling centres by disposing of their dead batteries responsibly. Batteries are accepted at all of our HWRCs. You can also approach staff at your local centre if you have an item with a battery in it which you are unable to remove, rather than placing it directly into the container.”

Dead batteries are likely to be crushed or punctured once the waste is collected and processed. Some battery types, such as lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride, can ignite or even explode when they’re damaged, causing fires which can set light to other materials in the waste, such as paper and cardboard, putting lives at risk.

Lithium-ion batteries are often found in products like laptops, tablets, mobile phones, radio-controlled toys, Bluetooth devices, shavers, electric toothbrushes, power tools, scooters and even e-cigarettes.

The recycling and waste management trade body, the Environmental Services Association (ESA), which launched the campaign, said that between April 2019 and March 2020, lithium-ion batteries were thought to be responsible for more than 250 fires at its members’ facilities.

Executive Director of the ESA, Jacob Hayler, said: “Unfortunately, the majority of batteries thrown away in the UK at the moment are not recycled properly. Fires caused by carelessly discarded batteries endanger lives, cause millions of pounds of damage and disrupt waste services. We urge consumers to please recycle batteries responsibly by using widely available local battery recycling services.”

All seven of the county council’s HWRCs, operated by FCC Environment and W&S Recycling, accept batteries for recycling, while there are also many other local collection points around Oxfordshire. Batteries are also accepted by Oxford City, Cherwell, West Oxfordshire, South Oxfordshire and the Vale of White Horse district councils. Residents can place them inside an envelope or clear bag on top of their bin on collection days. Waste Wizard can be used to check for specific information about kerbside collections.

HWRCs will remain open to the public during the period of increased COVID-19 restrictions, being brought in from 5 November - 2 December. Residents are asked to continue to maintain social distancing when using the centres, while being mindful of other residents and the teams working across the sites. The site at Redbridge in Oxford will, however, be closed to the public from 9 - 30 November due to essential repair work.

Recognising the service of extraordinary people

The full list of honours recognise the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom. It consists of knights and dames, appointments to the Order of the British Empire and gallantry awards to servicemen and women, and civilians.

Oxfordshire’s Watch Manager David Arlott from Faringdon Fire Station, has been awarded by Her Majesty The Queen with a British Empire Medal (BEM).

BEM’s are awarded to individuals for their 'hands-on' service to their local community,long-term charitable or voluntary activity and innovative work that has made a significant difference.

Councillor Judith Heathcoat commented: “I have represented the Faringdon Division as their County Councillor for just over 22 years and Dave Arlott has always been a constant!

“His unswerving loyalty and devotion to Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, his fellow fire fighter colleagues and the local community are absolute! Dave also has a friendly approachable nature and is always in the front row helping and supporting local fund raising events with his fire fighter colleagues he fully deserves this honour.”

A well deserved award for devotion to Faringdon's fire station

WM Dave Arlott, has been and remains committed to providing an outstanding service to his local community for the last 28 years. Chief Fire Officer Simon Furlong said: “On behalf of the Service, I would like to congratulate Dave on his well-deserved award. He is devoted to his local fire station and as Chief Fire Officer, I know that without Dave’s commitment and drive, the Fire Station in Faringdon would not be as professional and undertake all of the charitable and voluntary activities that it does currently under his leadership.”

Yvonne Rees, Chief Executive of the County Council also congratulates WM Arlott by saying: “I am incredibly thrilled that Dave’s outstanding dedication to not only his community, but the County of Oxfordshire has been appropriately recognised. Dave is an On Call Watch Manager and his commitment has made a significant difference to the lives of so many. His determination and hard work are truly inspirational - congratulations to Dave on this richly deserved award.”

WM Arlott is the officer in charge of Faringdon Fire Station, he always puts the needs of other first, tirelessly leading his personnel and setting an outstanding example of community spirit. The Strategic Leadership Team at Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service commented that Dave has successfully ensured that his crew members represent society and he is credited with having the first all-female fire crew in the county. This clearly demonstrates his ability and willingnesss to work with all of his community.

Firefighter Beata Maciorowska commented “Without the support of Dave, I would have been unable to balance my childcare needs with continuing to serve as a Firefighter in Faringdon.”

A pleasure to serve the community

Dave himself explained: “I was shocked and very honoured when I found out about the award as there’s many people in the fire and rescue service who, in my view, deserve this sort of recognition.

“Of course I am delighted to receive the BEM as I have lived in Faringdon all of my life and it has been a pleasure to serve the community. I have put in 30 years service so far and as long as I keep passing my fitness tests I plan to keep going for a few more years yet.”

As an on-call firefighter Dave manages his fire-fighting duties alongside his other job as a machine-operator. When on duty, being on-call means that he has to be able to respond and get to the station in a matter of minutes – something that requires a high level of dedication.

He explained: “You have to be able to get to the station and be on our way to the incident within five minutes of being alerted, so it is a big commitment, not just for me but also for my family. But I would not have it any other way and have my family to thank for me being able to serve for so many years.”

Without the leadership clearly demonstrated by Dave, Faringdon Fire Station would not be the high-performing, reliable and resilient unit that is widely recognised for by its community today. Congratulations to Watch Manager David Arlott for his richly deserved award, he is known by his colleagues to be great ambassador and advocate for the Fire and Rescue Service.

Many householders, despite being safety conscious, don’t check the first-floor link to their chimneys, where debris and dust can accumulate in the redundant upper floor fireplace. It can ignite and cause a chimney fire. The advice is to check this space regularly and make sure it is clear.

The advice is being issued as part of the council’s commitment to helping people live safe and healthy lives.

Wood burners

Guidance for owners of wood burners includes not stacking logs next to the fire. They might look nice, but there’s a risk of accidental ignition via radiated heat over time. Store firewood outside, away from buildings. The wood burner should never be left unattended when lit.

Always use a fire guard to protect an open fire against flying sparks and hot embers. Make sure embers are under control and properly put out before you go out or go to bed.

Bird's nest

The most recent chimney fire was at a property in the village of Stanton Harcourt, near Witney. The cause was a build-up of debris, including a bird’s nest.

Occupant, Donna Hawes, said: “The chimney hadn’t been cleaned for a couple of years, but we don’t regularly use the wood burner fire, so didn’t see it as a problem.

“In fact, it wasn’t wood burning that caused the blaze. My daughter was burning some paper receipts when we noticed excessive smoke billowing from the chimney. Luckily, the fire didn’t really take hold, once the bird’s nest was incinerated. The fire crew just dampened down the brickwork to ensure it was completely extinguished.

“But we recognise it was a lucky escape. The house stank of smoke for a couple of weeks but at least the property wasn’t damaged. We’ll have the chimney cleaned regularly from now on, and make sure the pot is fitted with a protective bird guard to prevent nesting.”

Regularly cleaned

Chris Barber, Home and Community Safety Manager, from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said:

“All chimneys and flues should be regularly cleaned and checked to ensure they’re free from debris and in full working order, ready to use safely when the weather gets colder.

“A blocked or defective chimney can cause both chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisonings so it’s very important to employ a professional qualified chimney sweep.

“If the worst should happen, working smoke alarms can give you an early warning. Make sure you have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home and test them monthly. And don’t keep this advice to yourself – pass it on. Is there anyone you know who may need your help in organising a sweep or testing their alarms?”

Never be complacent

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, the County Council’s cabinet member for community safety, explains:

“We should never be complacent when it comes to fire prevention. Householders have probably had their chimneys swept in readiness for winter, but many don’t check the first-floor link, where debris and dust can accumulate in the redundant upper floor fireplace.

“People with a wood burners also need to ensure their chimney is cleaned regularly for the same reason, and it needs to be noted that there is the risk of logs igniting from radiated heat.

“Open fires provide a relaxing and atmospheric way to keep warm, but, please follow our safety tips to make sure a cosy home doesn’t become a danger zone.”

For further information on wood burners and chimney safety, visit the website www.365alive.co.uk/cms/content/log-fires

For the first time, a fire engine is based in the town, enhancing firefighters’ ability to respond quickly to emergencies throughout West Oxfordshire; helping residents live safe and healthy lives.

The new facility complements fire stations in Burford, Bampton and Witney, giving Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service greater call-out flexibility.

The location of the fire station – an industrial unit at 1 Clare Terrace – is temporary, until a new state-of-the-art station is built at Monahan Way.

Most of fire crew have been with the service for over 14 months, previously based at Bampton fire station.

Simon Furlong, Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said at the ceremony: “We are really pleased to be opening a new fire station in Carterton, providing a local crew to support our prevention and protection activities in West Oxfordshire and across the county.”

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “Residents safety is our priority. This temporary fire station is a secure location for a fire engine and crew.

“It’s an important stepping stone towards providing a permanent base for fire and rescue in Carterton. Something we’ll be pursuing vigorously in coming months.”

Carterton fire station was officially opened on Wednesday 05 December.

Guest were given a guided tour of the facilities, including the fire engine, and an opportunity to interview fire crew.

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service attended 6,488 emergencies across the county in 2017. They also run educational campaigns on road and home safety, as well as advising and enforcing fire safety legislation to local businesses.

On-call firefighters work from all of its 25 stations, with whole-time firefighters based at six of these locations: Oxford, Slade, Didcot, Abingdon, Banbury and Kidlington.

The service is currently recruiting people to train as on-call firefighters. For further information, visit the website: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oncallfirefighters or email fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Ellis Bicknell, Watch Manager who is based in Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s Kidlington Fire Station, is promoting the Cook Safe campaign, taking place across the county over the next fortnight.

The campaign will remind householders of the devastating impact of kitchen fires. Firefighters will extinguish the flames quickly, but the material and human damage can be lifelong and lifechanging.

“Having recently attended a serious house fire, I know from experience that no one would want to accidently set their kitchen alight. The consequences are terrible,” explains Ellis.

“When I approached the kitchen door, there was a small amount of smoke; nothing to worry about, or so I thought.

“Entering the kitchen, I saw flames in and around the cooker, leaping up to the ceiling. The back door was open, so most of the smoke was escaping. The downside; more oxygen was being sucked into the fire from outside, increasing its ferocity. This was a serious situation.

“We immediately retreated and I instructed two of my crew to don breathing apparatus. It took them a few minutes to get the fire under control, using the high-pressure hose reel from the fire appliance.

“Once the fire was out, we used a positive pressure fan to force out the remaining smoke through windows, room by room. Walls were blackened throughout the building, not just in the kitchen.

“Once safe, I took the owner back into the property and had a good discussion about how the fire started and how he could prevent it happening again.

“The fire was caused by a build-up of food products and oils catching light. The owner said, ‘I’d been meaning to clean that’.

“He also had no battery in his smoke alarm. If he had, it would have given him a much earlier warning to get out and dial 999. Seconds can make all the difference in a fire.

“The devastation caused by kitchen and house fires like this can be far reaching. Damage to the home and possible injury. We want everyone to live safe and healthy lives. Please take care when cooking to avoid unnecessary accidents.”

Cooking fires account for nearly 20 per cent of accidental blazes in Oxfordshire homes. There are many causes of kitchen fires, but one of the biggest factors is distraction.

Chris Barber, Home and Community Safety Manager, from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, explains: “We all know how easy it is to get distracted by the phone ringing, the doorbell going, kids running around, or a TV programme catching your attention.

“Whatever the reason, any distraction, even if it’s momentarily, can be disastrous. That is the message we want people thinking about during this year’s Cook Safe.”

The campaign’s safety tips include turning the oven or hobs down – or off – if leaving cooking unattended, and setting a timer as a reminder to return and check how food’s progressing. Keeping the cooker clean of oil and grease also reduces the risk of fire.

Don't cook if under the influence of alcohol as it lowers concentration levels. The risk of accidents in the kitchen is greater if a person has been drinking.

In Oxfordshire, 70 out of 345 accidental dwelling blazes were cooking fires in the past year (01 August 2017 – 31 July 2018).

Chris Barber said: “House fires can spread rapidly and have a devastating impact on householders.

“Most cooking fires are preventable. The fire that Ellis attended is a good example; a 10-minute cooker cleaning job being put off now means the home owner needs a whole new kitchen!

“We hope by making people aware of the causes and encouraging them to follow simple and straightforward safety advice, there will be less kitchen fires in coming years.”

For further information on fire prevention visit www.365alive.co.uk/cooking

The UKRO Challenge is unrivalled for showcasing the incredible skills and commitment of emergency service personnel. It replicates real-life scenarios in disciplines such as vehicle extrication, trauma care, urban search and rescue, and water rescue.

The six-person Oxfordshire team will use the challenge to hone their accident rescue skills. They are training with the latest hydraulic tools in readiness to access, release and remove ‘live casualties’ in a range of vehicle crash scenarios.

Chris Barber, from the Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service team, said: “We’re taking every opportunity to train when we can, at work and in our own time, and we’re determined to give it our best shot. What we learn as we prepare for the Cardiff challenge will translate into how we respond to real collisions on the road, hopefully making Oxfordshire a safer place.

“Community support for our team has been fantastic. We’ve got great relationships with local scrap yards, who help us to mock up vehicle smashes using old car and van bodyshells.”

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s UKRO challenge team are:

Chris Barber (44), based at Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service HQ

Mark de la Coze (39), based at Kidlington

Chris Battle (40), Kidlington

Justin Stanley (40), Kidlington

Chris Aust (41), Kidlington

Paul Roberts (39), Kidlington

The campaign aims to provide businesses with information and advice to reduce the number of fire incidents and false alarms in the workplace,

Businesses are encouraged check they have taken necessary steps, required by law, to protect their premises and employees from fire. Advice is being given on preventing arson attacks, reducing false alarms, and taking safety precautions for sleeping accommodation.

Statistics show that in 2016-17 there were 19,410 fires in UK businesses with about 30% (5,518) started deliberately.

Chris Wilson, from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We want to work with small businesses to help them understand their legal responsibilities when it comes to fire prevention and safety.

“We’re promoting anti-arson measures and general fire safety in restaurants, takeaways and other licensed premises, particularly those with sleeping accommodation.

“Leaflets are available in a range of languages to help business owners whose first language is not English. Forthcoming seminars will provide an opportunity for employers to ask questions and learn how to ensure they maintain a safe working environment.”

For further information email fire.service@oxfordshire.gov.uk or visit the website www.365alive.co.uk/cms/content/work

Highways teams worked to clear surface water from under the Botley Road railway bridge in Oxford whilst Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended 68 other weather related incidents, dealing with lightning strikes, downed trees and property flooding.

Meanwhile emergency planners worked hand in hand with district councils to help temporarily rehome people whose individual properties had become flooded.

Teams had been preparing for the need to respond yesterday after the Met Office issued a “yellow” warning for rain (its lowest level of alert) followed by an amber alert for the south-west of the county.

The busy period was between 6pm and midnight when the rain was at its most intense and in the hours following.

Jason Crapper from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue said: “The first part of the county to experience the effects of the weather was western Oxfordshire and we attended incidents of localised surface water flash flooding in Bampton, Carterton, Brize Norton and Woodstock among others. Although the west was the first affected we did also have to attend a lightning strike to an electricity pole in Matthews Way, Wootton near Abingdon quite early.

“Essentially the weather moved from the south west up through the county to the north. We attended a number of incidents in Oxford and highways teams used pumps to clear water that had accumulated underneath the Botley Road railway bridge.

“Elsewhere we had to deal with flooding in Didcot, Kildington, Banbury and Enstone amongst other places as well as lightning strikes in Combe and South Leigh. It was certainly a busy night for all concerned.”

The Met Office is not currently predicting any further significant rainfall as can be seen from its forecast for coming days here

All agencies will now as a matter of course will monitor river levels. Currently there are only flood alerts in Oxfordshire (the lowest level of warning) More information can be found here.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has recently put out a number of fires caused by ashes from fireplaces and wood burning stoves. These fires have threatened the safety of those that live nearby and have damaged property.

Station Manager, Chris Barber said: “Most people don’t realise that ashes remain hot for a long time and can ignite fires. Ash and hot coals should be stored in a metal container that can be tightly closed with a metal lid. This box should never be stored in a house, garage or shed. It’s also really crucial not to store logs or any combustibles next to wood burners and fireplaces.”

Hot ashes ignite barn and garage fires

A serious fire in farm stables near Kirtlington on Wednesday was a lucky escape for residents and animals. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service found the roof of the barn alight, next to a house, large oil tanks and caravan.

The incident commander, Crew Manager Pete Mackay, from Bicester Fire Station said: “The fire quickly spread to a large store of firewood and hay from some hot ashes which had been placed in a plastic box within the wooden building and caught fire. Fortunately, due to the quick actions of a visitor noticing the fire, a horse was able to be moved and no animals were injured and we were able to prevent any further spread to the oil tank nearby, whilst tackling the main fire.”

In Little Bourton near Banbury last week, two fire engines from Banbury were called to a fire on the roof of a garage. The fire spread to a large store of firewood from some hot ashes inside a plastic bag in the garage some 18 hours before and which had developed unnoticed slowly throughout the day. The residents had gone to bed not knowing of the dangerous situation that was happening in their garage and they were so lucky to be woken by their smoke alarm operating when the smoke started to seep into their home. They evacuated safely and immediately called the fire and rescue service.

Wood burner fire in Osney

Firefighting crews were on the scene within minutes in Arthur St in Oxford this week when called to a fire in a house while the occupants were out. The smoke alarm had alerted a neighbour to the fire who then phoned 999. The fire is believed to have been started by a wood burner transferring heat to wood that had been stored next to it in the fireplace.

The Incident Commander, Watch Manager Richard Woodward said: “I would specifically remind the public not to store wood or place any other combustible materials immediately next to wood burners or boilers as the heat transfer is tremendous. On this occasion the occupiers of the house had working smoke alarms on each floor that alerted a neighbour and allowed plenty of time for us to intervene and resolve the incident”.

Safe disposal of hot ash and embers

• Store ash and hot coals in a metal container that can be tightly closed with a metal lid. This helps keep air from blowing through and disturbing the ashes which can leave hot coals exposed for re-ignition.
• Wet the ashes prior to closing the metal lid.
• Do not store your metal ash container:

• inside the house
• on a timber deck
• in a garage
• in a shed
• or in any location that may allow heat to transfer from hot coals to nearby flammable items

• Never empty ashes into:

• a paper or plastic bag
• cardboard box
• or other similar containers

This advice is part of 365alive, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s vision to work every day to save and improve the lives of people across Oxfordshire. For more information, visit www.365alive.co.uk .

More than one in three tyres are being driven below the vehicle manufacturers recommendation pressure – making vehicles more difficult to control and the tyres themselves more vulnerable to wear and tear.

Overall, surveys show that more than 50 per cent of car and vans on the roads are being driven on tyres that are below recommended inflation pressures, which increases fuel consumption.

Oxfordshire County Council’s road safety education team and firefighters will be the experts delivering the checks at the following locations with assistance from partner organisations, T Micheldever/Pro Tyre and Merityre.

• Wednesday, 25th October, Heyford Hill, Oxford, Sainsbury's 10am - 2pm
• Friday, 27th October, Henley Tesco’s, 10am - 2pm
• Tuesday 31^st October, Faringdon, Tesco’s car park, Park Road, 10am - 2pm

Andy Ford, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue’s Road Safety Manager, said: “Your tyres are the only thing connecting your car to the road and good grip is essential especially during the winter weather. If tyres are not properly inflated, then it could affect the performance of the tyre and make it more vulnerable to damage.”

“Each month would encourage all drivers to act on ACT. A is for air pressure; C is for condition and T is for tread. Checking these three things when doing tyre safety checks will keep you safe as well as anyone in your vehicle.”

Unable to make it to one of the events?

An online tyre pressure checker is here & TyreSafe members nationally are offering a free tyre health checks throughout the whole month, to find your local retailer visit https://www.tyresafe.org/

It’s important to check tyres regularly because the inflation and tread grooves on your tyres influence the way your car accelerates, breaks and corners. Without sufficient tread depth and correct pressure, your tyres may not be able to grip the road properly and you face an increased risk of aquaplaning.

For more information about the initiative, please visit www.365alive.co.uk

Six crews and one aerial platform appliance attended the incident – they were from Oxford, Kidlington, The Slade (Headington) and Wheatley.

On arrival crews were faced with smoke coming from the entrance to the ground floor store area of the building. Thames Valley Police also attended the incident to provide assistance with the investigation and traffic control around the area.

Two crews wearing breathing apparatus entered the store area with firefighting jets to extinguish the fire. The fire involved one store cupboard in the area that is used as a store area for residents. The crews quickly extinguished the fire to stop any spread in to the main part of the building.

Incident Commander, Group Manager Paul Bremble, said: “The crews were quick to extinguish the fire and stop it from spreading to other parts of the building. The store is situated at the ground floor of the tower and does not have direct access to the main part of the building. The construction of the store is designed to stop the spread of the fire to other parts of the building. There was no risk to residents during the incident and no spread of the smoke or the fire to the flats above.

“Thankfully no one was hurt at the incident and our crews are working with Thames Valley Police to ascertain the cause of the fire.”

Stephen Clarke, Head of Housing and Property at Oxford City Council, said: “Everybody is rightly concerned about fires in tower blocks since the tragedy in Grenfell Tower in London. Today’s small fire, and the textbook response to it, shows that the safeguards in place in Oxford work well.

“We are very grateful to the firefighters for their speedy and successful response, and are reinforced that we were right a couple of years ago to decide to go above and beyond national fire safety standards in our £20 million refurbishment programme for all five Oxford tower blocks.

“The comprehensive fire measures we decided on included fitting sprinklers – which Oxfordshire’s Chief Fire Officer has confirmed puts our blocks amongst only 18 in the country with sprinklers, out of around 600 blocks in total.”

Oxfordshire County Council has already started a review of fire risks related to the construction and materials used in its buildings.

A spokesperson said: "These reviews are being conducted as a precaution, and are not the result of any concerns about specific buildings. We have not yet identified any sites that have used such cladding material but the review is on-going. We have offered support to schools to ensure that fire risk assessments and evacuation plans are properly managed.”

27 June: Firefighters at high-rise towers in Blackbird Leys reassure residents about fire safety

Three crews from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service were at Evenlode and Windrush Tower in Blackbird Leys this afternoon door knocking and reassuring and advising residents about fire safety. Free Safe & Well visits were offered to residents who had concerns about fire safety in their home.

This follows Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Community Safety & Chief Fire Officer Simon Furlong speaking at a resident’s meeting in Blackbird Leys last night. Oxford City Council has confirmed that it will replace the rain-screen cladding on Evenlode and Windrush Towers with improved non-combustible material in line with the requirements of the new central government guidance.

Ms Siew Ling Yap, the former owner of the Crispy Duck 1, was ordered to pay £4,600 after she allowed employees to sleep in dangerous conditions, in a loft space accessed from a store room at her premises located at 4 Lostock Place, Didcot OX11 7XT.

Fire Safety Inspectors from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service were tipped off about the conditions by officers from the Local Authority Environmental Health team. Due to the dangerous practices and inadequate fire safety measures to ensure the safety of the workforce that were identified, the Fire Safety Inspectors issued a Prohibition Notice restricting the use of the premises to ensure the safety of the members of staff.

Ms Yap admitted three charges for three different offences at Banbury Magistrates Court on 28 April 2017. These included: failure to take such general fire precautions as were reasonably required to ensure the premises were safe for employees; failure to ensure that it was possible for persons to evacuate the premises as quickly and as safely as possible; and a failure to provide an adequate fire detection and alarm system, all of which meant those sleeping above the store room were placed at risk of death or serious injury if there were a fire.

The fines amounted to £3,000. Ms Yap was also ordered to pay costs totalling £1,500, plus a victim surcharge of £100. Ms Yap is no longer the owner of the Crispy Duck 1, and the business has been taken over by new management.

The case was taken to court by Oxfordshire County Council on behalf of its Fire and Rescue Service.

David Bray, Fire Protection Manager for Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which is enforced by the Fire Authority, places a requirement upon the responsible person, usually the building occupier, operator or owner, to firstly undertake a fire risk assessment and secondly act upon the outcomes of their significant findings. It is important that businesses not only understand why such an assessment must be initially undertaken, but as part of our constant drive to make Oxfordshire safer, we need businesses to regularly review their fire safety arrangements.

“By correctly managing their premises and not committing fire safety offences, business operators can avoid placing the occupants at risk of possible death or serious injury in the event of fire. This means that when Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service do undertake a routine fire safety audit of the premises, it is unlikely that such offences will be discovered and any need for legal proceedings being instigated against the responsible person is eliminated.”

Free advice for business operators

A suite of specific guidance documents to assist business operators is available free of charge via the Government’s GOV.UK website. Fire safety in the workplace - GOV.UK or via the Chief Fire Officers Association website at www.cfoa.org.uk .

Further advice is available from the Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service who are happy to support all local businesses with fire safety guidance.

Advice about fire risk assessments is part of Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service's 365alive campaign, an initiative designed to make the county a safer place through a range of educational and preventative community work. To find out more, visit 365alive.co.uk

The trial began on Monday 3 April and involves the three fire and rescue services of the Thames Valley providing a forced entry function on behalf of South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) or Thames Valley Police (TVP), where there is a concern for the life of a patient in a premises and ambulance or police crews are unable to make entry.

This initiative and the associated trial aim to reduce the delay delivering medical care to patients, minimise the time ambulance crews are delayed at incidents of this nature and reduce overall cost to the public.

Police have traditionally provided a forced entry function for the ambulance service. However, due to breaking in equipment not being routinely carried, demands on resources and the methods used to gain entry, ambulance services can benefit from fire and rescue services assisting. Fire crews carry the right equipment and can make specialist access, for example, entry at height.

All requests for effecting entry will be made by SCAS or TVP, via control rooms which will channel the request through Thames Valley Fire Control Service (TVFCS), the shared emergency call handling centre for the three fire and rescue services.

SCAS or TVP personnel must always be at the scene before a request can be made to TVFCS.

The trial will be evaluated throughout the six month period for improvements and there will be further assessment should the partnership become a longer term arrangement.

Rob MacDougall, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue said:  “Our firefighters have the specialist skills and equipment to gain entry to people’s homes in the event of a fire, so it makes absolute sense to use these capabilities to help ambulance crews gain entry to see patients as quickly as possible. Since the trial began less than two weeks ago, we have already assisted South Central Ambulance on five occasions and were able to swiftly provide access so that ambulance crews could attend to their patients. We are all part of the emergency services and continue to look for new ways to support each other so that people across the Thames Valley get the best service possible.”

Philip Astle, Chief Operating Officer at South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) said:  “We are pleased to be working with the three Thames Valley Fire and Rescue services to ensure we can gain access to patients as quickly as possible. Ambulance staff will make all attempts possible to gain access to a property prior to contacting the fire service. We would ask that any vulnerable members of the public have a key safe on their property and notify the emergency services of the code for this key safe. We are confident this pilot will be effective and benefit our speed of access to patients”.

Chief Inspector Scott Johnson from Thames Valley Police said: “This initiative is about providing the best possible response from the emergency services to patients needing urgent medical attention. It will reduce damage caused to properties, free up ambulance crew time as response times improve and most importantly may improve clinical outcomes for patients. This is joined up thinking across all three emergency services and underpins our common aim of keeping our communities safe”.

The three Thames Valley fire and rescue services are: Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service; Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service; and Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Fire and Rescue Service.

Simon Furlong, formerly Deputy Chief Fire Officer of Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service starts as Chief Fire Officer today, succeeding former Chief Dave Etheridge OBE, who retired at the end of March.

As well as being Chief Fire Officer for the county, Simon has also been appointed Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Community Safety which includes road safety, business continuity, gypsy and traveller services, emergency planning and trading standards.

Simon Furlong first joined Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service in 2012 as the Assistant Chief Fire Officer before being promoted to Deputy Chief Fire Officer in 2016. Prior to this he served in West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, after joining in 1990 as a whole-time firefighter and progressed through the ranks to Area Manager and has spent almost 27 years in the fire service.

Oxfordshire’s Chief Fire Officer Simon Furlong said: “I am extremely proud to be taking on the role of Director of Community Safety and Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council. I believe that we are in a strong position to face the challenges ahead and to deliver real benefits to all our communities by working together with my colleagues in the County Council.

“We have highly professional fire and rescue and community safety services here in Oxfordshire and I feel very honoured to be given the opportunity to lead such dedicated staff. Everyone who delivers our services, from firefighters to emergency planning officers to support staff, play an integral part in delivering our vision of ‘working together every day to save and improve the lives of the people across Oxfordshire’ and remain fully committed to doing so.

“I know, with the commitment and innovation demonstrated by our staff and by working closely with our partners, that we will be able to deliver even better outcomes for the local communities of Oxfordshire.

“The Fire and Rescue Service being part of the County Council provides a unique opportunity to evolve and improve how we deliver solutions that positively respond to the challenges of providing efficient and effective services that are tailored to the expectations of our communities.

“One of my key aims as Director of Community Safety is to increase the diversity of our workforce to enable us to represent Oxfordshire’s communities more effectively. Creating a more diverse workforce will improve our understanding of individuals’ needs to enable us to develop our services to be even better than they are now. The Fire and Rescue Service offers great career opportunities and we welcome applications from those groups that are currently under-represented in the service.”

A trial is underway which will see dangerous fallen trees being removed from Oxfordshire’s roads by the fire and rescue service.

At the moment the county councils contractors deal with all fallen trees but it is thought that in many circumstances a “blue light” response will be able to restore safety and traffic flows more quickly, as well as saving money.

The work will be done by Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service chainsaw trained firefighters from the Specialist Rescue Team. They will take responsibility for dealing with any tree that falls on the highway.

Fire service an integral part of the county council

County Councillor Rodney Rose, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The Fire and Rescue service is an integral part of the county council and it makes sense that they should use our specialist skills and resources to benefit residents if it can save time, maintain safety and save money.”

Only trees that fall onto roads will be dealt with by the fire service - trees falling on private land will remain the responsibility of the owners and emergency call outs will remain the fire service’s top priority.

The council will still have access to its current tree contractors who will carry out emergency work in the event of high numbers of trees down or if the fire and rescue service does not have the resources.

County Councillor David Nimmo Smith, Cabinet member for Environment, said: “Residents will know all about the work that our crews do to rescue people and put out fires, but clearly the range of things that they can help with is quite broad.

“I will be keen to see the results of the trial as it has the potential to provide a faster and more efficient service.”

Firefighters were not required to attend any major or life threatening incidents but sent single crews to a series of much smaller events such as uprooted trees or fallen signposts.

Crews attended an incident with Thames Valley Police to make safe a roof in Park End Street, Oxford.  They used a hydraulic platform to gain access to the roof after the police had closed the road . Crews sucessfully took down more than 10 tiles.

During the course of the morning firefighters attended to a tree that had fallen on to a car in Didcot - there were no injuries.

In Sibford Gower in the north of Oxfordshire they dealt with a fallen tree in the local primary school. A specalist crew from Kidlington dealt with the tree which was in an unsafe position. Crews also dealt with a number of instances of sheds and outbuilding roofs being lifted or damaged in the Sibford Gower area.

Meanwhile, as ever when there are high winds forecast, Oxfordshire County Council has highways crews and tree surgeons were active dealing with fallen trees on the highway.

Crews dealt with around 100 reported instances of fallen trees or large fallen branches in all parts of the county. No one part of Oxfordshire has been disproportionately affected compared to others.

The county council deals with trees that have fallen on highway land. More trees are likely to have fallen in the county on privately owned land.

Gritters were out from midnight on Friday, February 24 with temperatures falling to below zero in some areas of the county.

Councillor Ian Hudspeth, the Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: "My thanks go to all of those people from the county council and other agencies who were out during Storm Doris doing such a good job in such difficult conditions."

Trading Standards Officers tested 831 electric blankets belonging to people living across Oxfordshire and found that 177 or 21 per cent failed the test which is the lowest failure rate since the electric blanket testing campaign began eighteen years ago. However, this year there was an increase in the number of newer blankets that failed the test which highlights the need to regularly check your electric blanket no matter how old it is.

Chris Barber, Station Manager, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service said: “Whilst it is really good news that we have seen the lowest failure rate in the history of the electric blanket testing campaign, it is still worrying that 1 in 5 blankets are failing the test.

“If the condition of your electric blanket is allowed to deteriorate there is the possibility of electric shocks or electrical burns, which can cause permanent damage or fires.

“The more faulty electric blankets that can be identified and removed from use, then the greater the number of potential house fires we can prevent. I would like to encourage anyone who did not manage to get their electric blanket tested this year to check for wear and tear and frayed wires before using it this winter. If it is over ten years old I strongly recommend that you replace the blanket.”

How safe is your electric blanket?

Electric blankets can be perfectly safe to use provided they are in good condition and have the necessary overheating safeguards incorporated into the design.

Look out for wear and tear, scorch marks, loose connections or any damage to the flex. Also check that the elements are not loose within the blanket, touching or crossing over.

Always buy blankets new, not secondhand and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Signs that electric blankets are hazardous

• If they are over ten years old and don't have safety features built into the controller.
• Leakage of voltage to the surface of the blanket.
• The elements are able to move around inside the blanket with the potential to rub together and cause a short circuit.
• Elements are not secured within the blanket and are exposed to the surface.
• Power lead fasteners are broken and unable to be secured.
• The surface of the blanket is worn, exposing the elements.

Top tips

• When fitting your under-blanket, ensure it is secured to the bed using the supplied safety ties. This will ensure that the blanket doesn’t move and damage the elements.
• When the blanket is not in use, store it flat or, if it must be folded, ensure that it is not folded too tightly.
• Don’t use a hot water bottle at the same time and never use the blanket if it is wet or damp.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire & Rescue Service and Trading Standards team worked in partnership with Cherwell District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, Age UK and Witney Rotary Club to deliver free electric blanket testing over a two week programme across the county in October 2016.

Our fire and rescue service play a vital role in keeping our communities safe and well. In the run up to winter they are making every effort to keep residents safe and healthy.

Safe and Well visits

Building on the long-standing success of their Home Fire Risk Checks, which have helped to protect thousands of people throughout Oxfordshire from the risk of fire in their homes, our colleagues are now offering Safe and Well visits to residents.

During the visits, colleagues not only help to reduce the risk of fire in the home for example, by checking and fitting smoke alarms, they also provide health and wellbeing advice to help people stay well during the winter months.

Request a check for you or someone you know

If you know someone who you think could benefit from a Safe and Well visit, make a referral to the fire and rescue service, you can also request a visit for yourself.

Safe and Well visits have been introduced as part of a national campaign by the Chief Fire Officers Association – find out more by watching this short film.

Staying safe this winter

Our fire and rescue service’s winter safety pages on the 365alive website are packed full of pointers for residents to keep in mind as the winter draws in. They offer advice about having your chimney swept, instructions about checking your car tyres, and even tell you how to check an electric blanket.

 Visit the pages to read their life-saving advice.

Swan Pub Banbury Ltd and its director Mr Alan O’Donovan were together ordered to pay a total of £9,200 after they provided sleeping accommodation to members of the public, knowing the conditions were not acceptable and dangerous at The Swan Public House (3 South Bar Street Banbury OX16 9AA).

Fire safety inspectors from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service issued a Prohibition Notice restricting use of the premises after an inspection found the dangerous practices and inadequate fire safety measures to ensure the safety of the public.

Mr O’Donovan, the company director and Swan Pub Banbury Ltd admitted three charges for three different offences at Oxford Magistrates Court on 1 November 2016. The charges included:

• Failure to take general fire precautions as were reasonably required to ensure the first floor bedrooms were safe for public use
• Failure to ensure it was possible for persons using these rooms to evacuate the premises as quickly and safely as possible
• Failure to equip the premises with an appropriate fire alarm and detection system, all of which meant those sleeping on the first floor were placed at risk of death or serious injury if there were a fire.

The fines amounted to £6,000. They were also ordered to pay costs totalling almost £3,000 and a Court surcharge of £200.

Subsequent improvements carried out by Mr O’Donovan, which the Court acknowledged when imposing fines, have seen the risks reduced back to a tolerable level, thus allowing the Prohibition Notice to be withdrawn and public use resume.

Councillor Rodney Rose, the Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, who also has Cabinet responsibility for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The vast majority of businesses in the county take fire safety seriously and Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service will continue to support them to comply with legal requirements and to help keep business owners and customers safe. However, it is just not acceptable to put people’s lives at risk. Hopefully this prosecution will act as a deterrent to others who think they can ignore what are essential safety measures.”

Stuart Garner, Fire Protection and Business Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which is enforced by the Fire Authority, places a requirement upon the responsible person, usually the building occupier, operator or owner, to firstly undertake a fire risk assessment and secondly, which in this particular case was most relevant, act upon the outcomes of their significant findings.

Creating a safer Oxfordshire

“To help us create a safer Oxfordshire, it is important that businesses not only understand why such an assessment must be initially undertaken, but also the importance of acting upon the findings as part of a constant review process and management of their premises.

“In this particular case, Mr O’Donovan was aware of the fire risk assessment findings, together with the recommendations, but as the Court agreed, he failed to act upon the outcomes in a timely manner, thus placing the public at unnecessary and unjustified risk of fire.

“By correctly managing their premises and not committing fire safety offences, business operators can avoid placing the public at risk of possible death or serious injury in the event of fire. Thus, when the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service do undertake a routine fire safety audit of the premises, it is unlikely that such offences will be discovered and any need for legal proceedings being instigated against the responsible person is eliminated.”

“I would remind everyone that a suite of specific guidance documents to assist business operators are available free of charge via the Government’s GOV.UK website (Fire safety in the workplace - GOV.UK ) or via the Chief Fire Officers Association website at http://www.cfoa.org.uk/19512

“If any business requires any further advice, then please don’t hesitate to contact Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service who are always here to support all local businesses with fire safety guidance.”

For more information

Fire safety advice is part of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's 365alive campaign, an initiative designed to make the county a safer place through a range of educational and preventative community work. For further advice see www.365alive.co.uk .

Over 540 entries have been received from 19 schools across the whole county - from Banbury in the North to Goring in the South. Primary school children were asked to submit entries from a range of themes relating to firework safety: from misuse, the law and anti-social behaviour; to thinking about animals and having fun with fireworks.

Posters were judged on their fireworks safety message and artistic merit. Twenty finalists attended a special presentation at County Hall to receive a prize from Cllr Ian Hudspeth, the Leader of Oxfordshire County Council. The judges for this year’s competition were: Richard Rockall, Senior Public Safety Officer for Trading Standards; Don Crook, Watch Manger for Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service; and Inspector Rachel Patterson of Thames Valley Police.

Don't play with fireworks

Jake Coyne, aged five from Sonning Common Primary School in South Oxfordshire scooped first place in the 4-7 category. Five year old Jake said: “I am very proud of myself.” When asked what he had learnt about firework safety, he said: “Don’t play with fireworks.”

Evie Warland, aged ten from North Hinksey Church of England Primary School in Oxford took first prize in the 8-11 category. Ten year old Evie was shocked to win: “I’m surprised but thrilled.” When asked what she had learnt about firework safety, she said: “Be careful because fireworks are really dangerous.”

Jake and Evie’s winning designs will be used to support next year’s firework safety awareness campaign. The finalists also had the chance to meet a crew of firefighters from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Rewley Road Fire Station in Oxford. Many took the opportunity to climb into the front of the fire engine and pretend they were driving to an emergency incident as firefighters explained how and when they use the engine's blue lights and siren.

Firework safety

Richard Webb, Trading Standards and Community Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council said: “The competition is an opportunity for children to learn about important firework safety messages while having the chance for their work to be featured as part of the council’s firework safety messages.

“Three quarters of accidents connected to fireworks involve children and young people – we obviously all want to enjoy fireworks but everybody needs to know that they can be dangerous if not handled properly”.

Councillor Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for Fire & Rescue and Trading Standards, said: "Who better to ask for help in promoting safety than the young people who most enjoy the excitement of fireworks and bonfire night? Everyone has a role to play in keeping our communities safe and there’s no doubt that even our youngest residents can make a big difference. We are grateful to all the children who put in so much effort to produce such a high standard of entries."

For more information

This advice is part of 365alive, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s vision to work every day to save and improve the lives of people across Oxfordshire. For more information, visit www.365alive.co.uk .

As Bonfire Night approaches, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is reminding people that the safest way to celebrate is to attend a large professionally organised public event such as one the following, all taking place on 5 November: 

• Bicester Round Table Firework Display and Bonfire at Pingle Field, Bicester
• Oxford Round Table's 49th Annual Charity Fireworks Display at South Park, Headington Hill, Oxford
• Standlake Cokethorpe Sea Scouts annual Firework Spectacular at Standlake Village Hall, Standlake.

Chris Barber, Station Manager at Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service said: “Organised displays are bigger, better, cheaper and far safer than holding your own fireworks party. They also benefit a lot of good local charities and causes. However, if you are planning to use fireworks or organise a bonfire at home, please follow the Fireworks Code and our bonfire safety checklist to ensure you have a safe as well as fun bonfire evening.”

Remember to follow the Fireworks Code

• Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114
• Save the alcohol until after you have set off the fireworks
• Keep fireworks in a closed box. Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them
• Follow the instructions on each firework
• Light them at arm’s length, using a taper
• Stand well back
• Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it hasn’t gone off, it could still explode
• Always supervise children around fireworks
• Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves
• Never give sparklers to a child under five.

Bonfire Safety Checklist

• Bonfire Night parties wouldn’t be the same without a bonfire but to stay safe, follow these safety tips
• Make one person responsible for the bonfire. Only allow that person and designated helpers into the bonfire area
• Keep your bonfire at least 18 metres (60ft) away from houses, trees, hedges, fences or sheds.
• Only burn clean dry timber
• Before lighting the fire check its construction carefully to make sure that it is stable and check for animals, especially hedgehogs
• Use domestic firelighters to light your bonfire
• Do not use petrol, paraffin, diesel or other flammable liquids to light your bonfire
• Keep some buckets of water nearby
• Never burn aerosols, batteries, bottles, foam-filled furniture, tins of paint or tyres.

Councillor Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for Fire & Rescue, said: "If you are in any doubt about the suitability of your home for a firework display or are unsure about how to set them off safely, then I would urge you to follow the advice of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and attend an organised public display. We’re lucky in Oxfordshire to have many great public displays taking place on our doorstep, all across the county.”

This advice is part of 365alive, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s vision to work every day to save and improve the lives of people across Oxfordshire. For more information, visit www.365alive.co.uk .

The supporting Community Risk Management Action Plan for 2017-18 sets out a number of priorities and key projects the Service is proposing to undertake to ensure that Oxfordshire residents and businesses are safer, whilst at the same time delivering an efficient and effective emergency response when necessary.

The Service is seeking views via its consultation on both documents that drive the work of the Service to reduce risk across Oxfordshire.

Delivering a safer Oxfordshire

Julian Green, Group Manager Strategic Risk & Assurance at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “This five year Strategic Community Risk Management Plan 2017-22 is our analysis of the county’s community risk profile, together with our strategic approach of how we intend to effectively manage those risks over the period, in delivering a safer Oxfordshire.

“I would urge people to get involved in the consultation and tell us what they think. Have we highlighted the right risks? Is anything missing? We are also looking for feedback on our proposed plans to address the risks identified and any ideas for what we could do differently.”

The consultation runs until 9 January 2017. To take part in the consultation process, there is an online questionnaire on the county council's website, here.

Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet will be asked to approve the final version in March 2017.

Notes to editors

The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 requires the Secretary of State to prepare a Fire and Rescue National Framework to which fire authorities must have regard when discharging their functions.

The 2012 Framework requires each fire and rescue authority to produce a publicly available Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP). Within Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, this is referred to as its Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) to make it more meaningful to the public.

Strictly Come Dancing co-host Claudia Winkleman launched a campaign on BBC 1's Watchdog programme after her daughter was injured in 2014 when her Halloween costume brushed against a pumpkin lamp and went up in flames. The programme highlighted that children's fancy dress costumes are classed as toys rather than clothes, meaning they are subject to less rigorous safety tests than clothing. Even those that comply with toy safety regulations can still catch fire but should burn at a rate that will allow a child to get out before a serious injury occurs.

Check for the 'CE' mark

Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team and Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue are therefore advising people to check that any Halloween costumes they buy comply with fire safety regulations by checking the garment’s label has a ‘CE’ mark before purchasing. They are also encouraging people to consider alternatives to candles in pumpkins such as LED lights to avoid costumes coming into contact with a naked flame.

Trading Standards Operation Manager at Oxfordshire County Council, Jody Kerman said: “We don’t want to stop people enjoying Halloween, but we do want them to celebrate safely and be aware of ways to reduce the fire risks. Before buying a children's fancy dress costume, check that it includes the CE mark.

“We would also urge people to swap naked flame candles for battery powered LED equivalents in pumpkin lanterns and other decorations, to reduce the risk that costumes could accidentally catch fire which could result in burns, which can last a lifetime.”

The Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service produced this film to highlight the dangers of Halloween costumes being near a naked flame.

Councillor Rodney Rose, Oxfordshire County Council's cabinet member for Fire & Rescue and Trading Standards, said: "We want everyone to have a happy Halloween but we also need to remember the safety hazards that the increased use of candles around this season can cause. Protecting children is vitally important so I urge everyone to check costumes for the CE label before buying them and avoid using real candles by using LED candles instead.”

What to do if a costume goes on fire

Quick and calm action could help to save a child’s life if their costume catches fire like the one Claudia Winkleman’s daughter was wearing at a party in 2014. The mantra to remember from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is STOP, DROP and ROLL…

• If on fire, STOP the child from moving as moving around creates air and increases the fire;

• Heat rises so DROP the child to the floor and lay down flat to prevent flames from reaching their face;

• Next, ROLL the child over and over and back and forth until the flames are out.

Cool any burns with large amounts of water and get urgent medical assistance.

This advice is part of 365alive, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s vision to work every day to save and improve the lives of people across Oxfordshire. For more information, visit www.365alive.co.uk

Assistant Chief Fire Officer of Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, Rob MacDougall, said: “If you find out that one of your white goods is subject to a safety notice or recall, it is really important that you do not continue to use it, even if the manufacturer says it is safe to do so. This is a view shared by other Fire and Rescue Services across the country and by the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA).

“If you want to check if a white appliance is part of a manufacturer’s recall or subject to a safety notice, check the manufacturer’s website. Alternatively, visit http://www.registermyappliance.org.uk/ to check if your appliances are safe.”

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attends more than two incidents every month involving white goods.

Councillor Rodney Rose, the cabinet member with responsibility for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service said: "In line with the advice offered by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service we strongly advise homeowners and tenants to check whether their white goods are subject to a product recall. It’s something you might not always be aware of but left unchecked puts you and who you live with in danger.”

White goods fire safety tips

• Be sure to register your appliances so you can be contacted if a safety repair is ever needed. It’s easier than you think.

• Don't leave appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines running over night or when the house is empty

• Good housekeeping can reduce the risk of fire - dusty vents on fridges should be cleaned

• If your tumble dryer is taking longer to dry your clothes the vent hose may need cleaning out

• Research revealed that 32% of Brits would continue to use white goods even if they started making strange noises. It’s never wise to ignore strange appliance noises – turn the appliance off and call an electrician

• Make sure you have working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan

• Visit www.365alive.co.uk/cms/content/electrical-safety for more tips and advice about electrical safety.

Areas that were affected by flash flooding included Didcot, Goring, Wallingford, Abingdon, Cholsey, South Stoke and East Hagbourne.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue attended Wallingford Community Hospital where some parts of the buildings were impacted by flooding.

Firefighters also attended to assist in dealing with flooding at Didcot Parkway Railway Station and worked to protect some properties from waters on Station Road in Cholsey.

Group Manager Gary Coupar of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue said: "We’ve had to deal with a number of instances of cars becoming stranded as a result of trying to drive through floodwater. People should avoid doing this

“If the electrics in your home are being affected by floodwater please turn off the electricity”

A number of flood alerts are in place in Oxfordshire. This is the Environment Agency's lowest form of alert. Details can be found on their website. https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/river-and-sea-levels

Chris Barber, Station Manager for Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service said: “The end of the summer is the perfect time to have your chimney swept ready so it’s ready for your first fire of the winter season.

“To keep you and your family safe from fire during the winter months make sure you have your chimney swept regularly, depending on what fuel you burn, before the colder months set in and you begin to use your fire again.”

Get it swept

Real fires create a warm and homely atmosphere but bring with them extra risks. A poorly maintained chimney, hearth or fireplace can increase the risk of fire breaking out in your home.

By taking a few extra precautions you can enjoy the glow of a real fire and make sure you and your family stay safe.

If you have a chimney - get it swept - is the message from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. A chimney can become dangerous and a potential source of a far more serious fire.

Top tips for open fires

• Have your chimney swept at least once a year – more frequently if you burn wood

• Always use a fire guard to protect against flying sparks from hot embers

• Make sure embers are properly put out before you go to bed

• Only burn suitable fuels and don’t overload your fire place

• Never place hot ashes in a wheelie bin

• Fit a smoke alarm and test it weekly

• Make a fire escape plan

• Fit and carbon monoxide alarm and test it weekly.

Visit 365alive.co.uk for advice on smoke alarms, escape plans and chimney fire safety.

How often should you have your chimney swept?

Keep it clean

To find a registered chimney sweep in your area visit www.hetas.co.uk to find a certified Chimney Sweep.

Notes to editors

• This advice is part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s 365alive initiative. For more information about the initiative, please visit www.365alive.co.uk

• There have been 73 chimney fires in Oxfordshire so far in 2016. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has attended 1,278 chimney fires since 2008.

Richard Webb, the council's Trading Standards and Community Safety Manager, said: "I would like to encourage people to regularly clean and remove the fluff from the filter, and to run their tumble dryer in the day when they are at home to keep an eye on it.

“I would also like to urge people to register their alliances at www.registermyappliance.org.uk. Registering your appliances ensures you receive important safety messages about those items.

“If you are concerned that your dryer could be affected by a recall visit the product recalls page on www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk or check with your manufacturer.”

Other top tips:

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and any additional advice they may have issued recently.
• Watch for warning signs such as unusual smells during use, items taking longer to dry than normal, and the external vent flap opening when the dryer is on.
• Make sure the machine is regularly cleaned and follow all the manufacturer’s instructions to maintain the machine and ensure excess fluff or lint doesn't build up over time and catch fire.
• Make sure the vent is always uncovered.
• Make sure you have working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan.

Notes to editors:

• This advice is part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s 365alive initiative.
• For more information about the initiative, please visit www.365alive.co.uk

Even small amounts of alcohol can impact on a person’s ability to judge speed and distances, and to react quickly. Just take a look at this video of our firefighters trying to play football while wearing their ‘beer goggles’.

Mick Clarke, Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service Road Safety Manager said: “A small amount of alcohol will influence your ability to judge speed and distances, and your reaction times may be slow.

“The only safe option is not to drink alcohol if you plan to drive, and never offer an alcoholic drink to someone else who is intending to drive. Encourage them to have a drink soft drink, or why not offer them a Mocktail instead.”

“If you’re driving the next morning, don’t get caught out, you could still be over the drink drive limit, even if you feel fine. Know your limits and avoid heavy drinking the night before.”

“Drinking coffee, sleeping, or having a shower won’t work. Time is the only way to get alcohol out of your system.”

Try a Mocktail instead

There's no mocking these alcohol-free favourites. They are a great alternative on a night out or at a party or barbecue. If you’re the designated driver or if you have guests who are driving try a Mocktail instead.

If you’re going out rather than staying at home, lots of restaurants, pubs and bars offer a Mocktail menu. If they don’t, you could ask for a ‘virgin’ version of your favourite cocktail instead, any drink recipe can be modified by simply leaving out the alcohol.

The morning after

Enjoy a few beers or glasses of wine on a night out? You could still be over the drink drive limit the morning after, even if you feel fine.

Do you know how long you need to leave between you last drink and picking up your car keys?

Take a look at the quick guide on 365alive.co.uk. Or download the new ‘Morning After’ app which has been developed by the ‘Morning After’ campaign to help people reduce their risk of driving while over the limit the morning after drinking alcohol.

Notes to editors:

• This advice is part of Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s 365alive initiative.

• For more information about the initiative, please visit www.365alive.co.uk

Six fire appliances, five from Oxfordshire and one from Buckinghamshire along with a hazardous materials decontamination unit and support officers were sent to the scene.

The incident involved approximately 100 litres of hydrochloric acid spilt from a container, captured within a bund wall, which was giving off a vapour. One person from the plant had breathed in the vapour and went for precautionary checks at the John Radcliffe Hospital but was found not to be suffering any ill effects.

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service assessed the situation with an on-site emergency response team and put cordons in place.

An hazardous materials advisor from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service assessed the scene and gave advice to the incident commander.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus and gas tight suits entered the area to assess the state if the spill and removed other chemical containers from the risk area to prevent the situation from worsening.

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service are currently still on site awaiting the arrival of specialist chemical cleaning company to make safe and remove the acid.

Incident Commander Will McPhail said: “We have worked closely with colleagues from South Central Ambulance Service, Thames Valley Police and BMW emergency response staff to prevent the incident from escalating and maintain scene safety. We will remain on site until specialist teams arrive to take over and remove the chemicals."

Visit www.365alive.co.uk for road safety advice.

If you have a road safety question please call the free phone community safety helpline on 08000 325 999 or email: community.safety@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Loan sharks often trap borrowers into spiralling debt through exorbitant rates of interest and arbitrary extra charges. When people are unable to pay many will resort to bully tactics such as intimidation, threats or violence.

The scheme aims to see the money these loan sharks made, used wisely, to benefit key areas. Local residents, charities, community and voluntary groups, schools and statutory agencies benefiting those that live in the Oxford postcode areas of OX1 – OX4 are welcome to apply for the cash; your project must contribute to raising awareness of loan sharks and aim to do at least one of the following:

• Promote legal, affordable credit options to prevent people from using loan sharks – for example, encouraging new credit union accounts.
• Prevent wider crime and disorder whilst promoting the Stop Loan Sharks messages.

Applicants have until the 31st July 2016 to place their bids.

The community will then vote online and in person for how they would like the money to be spent, with the winning projects decided on August 31st.

Richard Webb, Manager for Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards Team said: “We are delighted that money confiscated from illegal money lenders will be put to good community use within the area and we want to encourage people to continue to report any suspected loan shark activity.”

Tony Quigley Head of the England Illegal Money Lending Team added: “Illegal money lenders are a scourge on our communities, and can have a hugely detrimental impact on the lives of their victims. Through schemes such as this, we are able to use this money for something positive and help to prevent these criminals from operating in the future. We would always urge victims of illegal money lenders to seek help by contacting us in confidence on 0300 555 2222.”

Groups can apply for up to a maximum of £1,250 per project and can submit more than one project idea. For an application form, please contact Cath Wohlers oncatherine.wohlers@birmingham.gov.uk or 07500 809339Follow us on twitter: @loansharknews

To report a loan shark:

Call the 24/7 confidential hotline 0300 555 2222Text 07860022116Email reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.ukPrivate message us on www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject

7.00am

Staff Members at Henley Store Suffer Breathing Difficulties

At 1433 on Wednesday 8 June, Thames Valley Fire Control Service received an emergency call reporting members of staff at WH Smith, Bell Street, Henley complaining of breathing difficulties, possibly caused by some sort of gas or chemical having been released.

Crews from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, together with Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Services, were immediately dispatched and colleagues from South Central Ambulance Service and Thames Valley Police were also requested to support the incident.

 After swiftly arriving on scene, the local crew from Henley Fire Station found several people suffering ill effects and the store being evacuated. They immediately took actions to isolate those already involved and established initial safety cordons to protect remaining members of the public occupying the busy town centre.

Due to the nature of the incident and the uncertainties surrounding what had happened, additional specialist Fire and Rescue Detection Identification and Monitoring Teams and Equipment were requested and a multi-agency command structure and approach established.

Crews wearing specialist protective clothing and carrying detection equipment then entered the area in question in an attempt to establish any unknown substances and a possible cause.

Whilst the searches were taking place, 10 persons were checked at the scene by South Central Ambulance Service and all were subsequently released.

Nothing untoward was discovered inside the store and when all responders were happy that the situation was now fully under control, crews worked swiftly to return the area to normal, thus allowing neighbouring businesses and surrounding streets to reopen.

Although nothing untoward was found, South Central Ambulance Service are advising that if any members of the public who were in the store at the time (2.30pm) believe they are suffering any ill effects, they are advised to contact 111.

Incident Commander Station Manager Marcus Reay said “due to the type of incident we were faced with it was necessary to put in a safety cordon around the incident in Bell Street. I would like to thank the business owners and our colleagues from Thames Valley Police who worked with fire service crews to make the evacuation of people in the area happen in a calm and timely manner. Although our specialist crews detected nothing untoward on their equipment, Thames Valley Police are continuing to investigate what may have occurred in the store to cause staff and some members of the public these ill effects.”

If you have any information about this incident, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.

5.50pm

Statement from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's Premises Risk and Protection Manager Stuart Garner:

“Around 2.30pm, the fire service from Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Royal Berkshire together with South Central Ambulance Service and Thames Valley Police were called to members of staff complaining of breathing difficulties at WH Smith, Bell Street, Henley.

“The store was immediately evacuated. Responders from all emergency services worked together to cordon off the area to maintain the safety of other members of public in the vicinity.

“Fire and Rescue Service and SCAS specialist teams wearing protective equipment and using monitoring devices searched the store in an attempt to identify any gas or chemicals present. Nothing untoward has been discovered.

“Ten persons were checked at the scene by South Central Ambulance Service and have all subsequently been released

“Fire and SCAS are currently working with TVP to return the area to normal and reopen the businesses and surrounding streets. Police are continuing to investigate the cause.

“Nothing untoward has been found. However, if any members of the public who were in the store at the time (2.30pm) believe they are suffering any ill effects, they are advised to contact 111.”

4.40pm

Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service is currently in Henley working with Thames Valley Police and ambulance services as they deal with an incident at a shop in Bell Street.

At around 2.35pm today emergency services were called when several customers came out of the store coughing and with streaming eyes. Seven people are being treated at the scene by South Central Ambulance.

There are cordons in place and are likely to be in place for the next two hours or so while the fire service deals with the incident . There are also traffic restrictions in place and drivers are asked to avoid the area if possible.

There is nothing to suggest that this is related to terrorism.

The warning comes as part of the national Boat Safety Week (30 May – 5 June 2016), which aims to highlight the importance of having working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on boats. It is a reminder for the many residential boat owners living on Oxfordshire’s waterways and also to those who rent leisure and house boats at this time of year.

Chris Barber, Station Manager for Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service said: “In the past 20 years thirty boaters were killed in boat fires and another thirty lost their lives to the ‘silent killer’ carbon monoxide. The message, timed for the start of the boating season, is that owners should understand the risks, make regular, basic checks, and follow their engine and appliance operating guidelines, as the essential steps to deal with the fire and carbon monoxide threat.

“Although boat fires on inland waters in Oxfordshire are less common than fires on land, when they do occur they quite often have devastating consequences. As well as taking fire safety on the boat into account, we would urge boaters to ensure that they know their location at all times so that in the event of any emergency we can get reach them as soon as possible.

“Smoke alarms can make a real difference to the outcome of fires on boats. We want all boat users to be aware of the risks and want to see suitable smoke alarms installed in all boats with overnight accommodation. Anyone in doubt about the alarm they need should contact us on 08000 325 999. We are here to help you make sure your boat is as fire safe as possible."

Smoke alarms save lives

Smoke alarms can make a real difference to the outcome of fires on boats. They are reasonably priced in local DIY stores and are easy to fit. For boats, optical sensor alarms with hush buttons and sealed for life batteries are recommended as are choosing those with a British Standard ‘Kitemark’ or a LPCB ‘Horseshoe’ mark. Test your alarm weekly if you live on your boat or every time you board your boat if you don’t.

Other top safety tips for boaters

• Have at least one fire extinguisher, which you should put near the boat exit
• Make sure the cooker is not left unattended
• Always keep an eye on a solid fuel stove when it’s lit. Try to avoid leaving the boat with the stove running
• Make sure furnishings and foam insulation are ‘fire-retardant’, which means they don’t catch fire easily
• Make sure you know the contact details of the local Fire and Rescue Service
• Take extreme care when refuelling with petrol or changing gas cylinders
• Avoid using portable gas equipment on-board, where possible, and store all gas canisters in special gas lockers or open places where any leaks will flow overboard
• Check battery terminals and fuse box connections routinely for damaged strands or signs of overheating
• Take care when doing repairs, and keep interiors well ventilated when using adhesives, paints and spirit based products.

People can also get safety advice on the go, with the top 10 tips to keep you safe from carbon monoxide available for smartphones, tablets and laptops at www.365alive.co.uk

For further information about general boat fire and carbon monoxide safety advice, visitwww.boatsafetyscheme.org/stay-safe

Firefighters and Police Community Support Officers in Oxfordshire are combining their expertise to offer home safety checks that will provide fire safety and crime prevention advice in a single visit, as part of a pilot scheme that will start in Carterton and the surrounding areas of West Oxfordshire this month.

The pioneering initiative by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Thames Valley Police will mean that when Police Community Support Officers visit homes, they will be trained to spot fire-related risks and offer fire safety advice on the spot instead of referring people to the fire service to arrange a second visit. Equally, when firefighters visit homes they will be trained to look for signs of when someone is vulnerable to crime and offer advice to residents about how to protect their homes and avoid being a victim of door-step crime for example. It is hoped that by working together in this way a greater number of households can be visited and made aware of all the risks in and around their home.

Dave Etheridge, Chief Fire Officer at Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We have always worked closely with Thames Valley Police and this is an excellent example of offering the people of Oxfordshire an improved service. By combining fire safety and home security advice, we can provide important community safety messages in an effective, seamless way that makes the best use of resources. Prevention is key to reducing crime and improving fire safety and I look forward to further joint initiatives with the police service."

The pilot will run for six months so that the impact of the new approach on community safety can be monitored.

Chief Superintendent Andy Boyd from Neighbourhood Policing and Partnerships at Thames Valley Police said: “This is a great example of how partnership working can work for not only the community but also for two agencies such as the police and fire service. I am looking forward to seeing the results from this and continuing our work supporting the fire service.”

“Marcus Reay, the Station Manager of both Wallingford and Goring Fire Station, said: ““The crews are doing an excellent job when they are called upon for emergencies and they are also a key part of the community providing visits for schools, guides and cub scouts.

“We are actively recruiting people who may work in Wallingford or Goring and/or live in those areas. I would encourage more people to come to the station on Wednesday evenings to find out more.

“In the past year Wallingford fire station have attended 290 calls, for a range of incidents including fires, flooding, car crashes, rescues and many others. We had a busy start to the year with crews attending a number of fires and our crew was also involved in the fire at the Randolph Hotel in Oxford and a rescue of a Lady from the Bell tower in St Mary’s church Cholsey.

“Goring attended 68 call outs in the past year, attending several large fires including the South Oxfordshire District Council building and Thatch fire at Roke and the Copthorne Hotel Fire near Reading.

“Our on call teams are real local heroes and we are always interested to hear from anyone who thinks they might have what it takes to join one of our crews.

“Everyone receives full training and a receives payment for this and all emergency calls”

Emily James, who works as a recruitment consultant has been with Goring Fire Station for the past year. She has been working hard to pass her 10 monthly development test and work towards being a breathing apparatus wearer

Emily said: “I wanted to join Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service to give me a new challenge and the opportunity to do some things I have never done before and was exciting whilst also providing a service for the community”

Anyone interested in finding out more about being a on call fire fighter can contact Marcus on07788 183050 or visit either Wallingford or Goring fire station at 1900 on any Wednesday evening.