A set of proposals will be consulted on, designed to ensure that, as Oxfordshire grows and changes its fire stations, resources, and people are in the right place at the right time to meet the needs of communities and improve the safety, efficiency and resilience of the service.  

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has recently completed a review of how it delivers its emergency response and community safety across the county. 

Considerations included how, where and when wholetime and on-call firefighters operate to enable the service to better meet demand day and night across all of Oxfordshire. This includes improving both emergency response times and expanding the reach of vital prevention and protection services to all communities.  

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s fire and rescue service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “It’s important that we regularly review our resources, understand where incidents are most likely to happen and ensure we have the right level of emergency cover in those areas.  

“We provide a fire and rescue service for the people of Oxfordshire, and I want them to play an active role in helping us plan and shape the future of the service by participating in our public consultation.” 

On-call firefighter staffing levels continue to decline in Oxfordshire, with a 36 per cent reduction in the number of full-time equivalent on-call firefighters over the last 10 years. This is affecting the ability to respond to emergencies when demand is highest, which is during the day. 

There is currently greater availability of resource – fire engines and firefighters – at night when demand is lowest, and lower availability during the day when demand is higher. This impacts response times in the day.  

The public consultation will seek views on a range of proposals designed to:  

• Match resources to risk, based on an understanding of where incidents are most likely to happen across Oxfordshire to ensure that the right level of cover is available in those areas.
• Improve community safety, with the service enhancing its prevention and protection work. This important service will be reshaped to meet the changing needs of Oxfordshire’s population.
• Futureproof the service by reviewing how it operates currently, which will help in making informed decisions that ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing and Safety, said: “Your feedback is really important in helping us provide an even better fire and rescue service. The more opinions we receive, the more we can be confident that the decisions we take at the end of the consultation will deliver the kind of fire and rescue service you want across Oxfordshire.”

Public consultation

The public consultation includes a number of options that directly involve Rewley Road fire station in Oxford and the resources that are currently based there.                      

The option that is central to the consultation involves creating five day shift fire engines in Wallingford (or Crowmarsh), Faringdon, Witney, Bicester and Chipping Norton. This will be done by the reallocation of firefighters from existing roles including crewing on one of Rewley Road’s fire engines. This is to help address fire engine staffing levels elsewhere in the county. 

This main proposal includes removing the on-call fire engine away from Rewley Road fire station due to very low levels of staffing over many years. Despite the commitment of the on-call at Rewley Road and the efforts made to boost recruitment, between July 2022 and March 2024, Rewley Road on-call provided less than five percent of staffing hours that are needed during the day and only nine percent availability at night. 

A further option involves moving the fire engines from Rewley Road and Kidlington fire stations to a new fire station location towards the north of Oxford, to improve response times to the surrounding area as well as creating a more accessible station for firefighters outside the city centre.

For Thame, one of the proposals involves removal of the second fire engine at the town’s fire station which, despite the committed efforts of the local crews, has low availability and attends on average only 17 incidents a year in Oxfordshire. 

This move, whilst having no significant impact to first response time to primary fires and road traffic collisions, would allow the employees based at the fire station to focus their efforts on ensuring that just one fire engine is made available. 

No closures have been confirmed, however, three on-call fire stations – Woodstock, Eynsham, Henley – have been considered for closure due to persistent low fire engine availability.  

This is because, despite the dedication of on-call employees, the pressures of modern life often mean that many of them are unable to commit to offering the hours that they once might have; they make themselves available based on their outside of the fire service work and family commitments.  

These closures, should they proceed, are forecast to have a minimal impact on overall response performance due to the ability to deliver a fire engine response from surrounding stations, which is already often the case. 

The consultation will be available on Let’s Talk Oxfordshire from Tuesday 28 October 2025.  

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His contributions to the Thames Valley Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and leadership during times of crisis, as well as his ongoing voluntary work and commitment to equality and diversity were highlighted as notable examples of his exemplary work over the years.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Director of Community Safety and Chief Fire Officer Rob said: "I am honoured to be receiving this medal; it is a testament to all of the dedicated and courageous teams that I have the privilege to work with every day that protect our community by reducing harm and saving lives.

“I am deeply humbled to be acknowledged in this way and, I am very grateful to have a career where I get to work with amazing people, where doing a good job means that people are safer."

He is recognised for his charity work with the World and United Kingdom Rescue Organisation, helping to train over 3,000 Ghanaian Fire Service professionals since 2004.

Councillor Dr Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Safety, said: “In his time as Chief Fire Officer, Rob has been a superb ambassador for the service, the county council, the county, and the sector as a whole.

“He has shown true leadership above and beyond from his command in response to crisis and incidents, such as the Didcot Power Station collapse in 2016, to work with young people with the VRU, his support for the LGBT+ community, and passion for equality.

“We’re all absolutely delighted that Rob is being recognised for all his efforts over the years, and we’re so grateful for his commitment to Oxfordshire. A very well deserved award, congratulations!”

Rob is currently chair of the Safer Oxfordshire Partnership and the Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership (VPP), which was established in 2019. Since it’s inception, the Thames Violence Reduction Unit, which is governed by the VPP, has engaged with 2,400 individuals through the various programmes such as hospital navigators and school navigators and undertaken 766 interventions.

He has held many National Fire Chiefs Council roles and is currently leading the People, Culture and Leadership committee. His previous national leadership roles include apprenticeship programme lead officer and on-call firefighter lead.

There are many hazards under the surface that may entrap a person or cause serious injury. Using supervised venues or swimming pools is much safer.

Even on a warm day, the temperature of a body of open water can remain very cold. Falling or intentionally jumping into water can result in a cold shock response.

Deb Forder, Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Open water can look appealing, especially on warm days, but it is also very dangerous. That is why the practical advice we’re offering  is so important, particularly during the summer when residents are more likely to be tempted to take a dip.

“Please consider things such as letting friends and family know your route near water and what time you should return. Carry a whistle to draw attention if you do get into difficulties.”

 “You gasp for air meaning that you could breathe in water, and you hyperventilate. This over-breathing can make you lightheaded and, as your brain is deprived of oxygen, you may become disoriented.

“Your body’s cold shock response, which speeds up the heart rate, may conflict with the diving response, which does the opposite, causing your heart to go into abnormal rhythms, which can cause sudden death.

“If you fall in, remember to relax, lean back and float (see image) until you can control your breathing.”

Anyone witnessing someone in trouble in the water should call 999 or 112 and shout for help. They shouldn’t enter the water themselves; instead throw something in that will float.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service warns that there are other dangers of open water. Be aware that:

• Reservoirs, lakes, rivers and other inland water may look safe and inviting, particularly on a warm day. But there are hidden dangers below the surface that could make people ill, cause injury, even kill.
• Even on a warm day, the temperature of the water in a reservoir, quarry or lake can remain very cold. The low water temperature can numb limbs and claim lives.
• From the surface, it is not always possible to see what is under the water. This could be anything from large rocks to machinery, from shopping trolleys to branches and even fish hooks or broken fishing line, all of which could cause injury.
• Moving water, such as rivers, might look calm but there could be strong currents below the surface. Even reservoirs have currents, caused by working machinery. Whether or not someone is a strong swimmer, currents can carry them into danger.

Oxfordshire has many rivers, streams, canals. Activities that are known to lead to the highest number of fatalities are walking, running, swimming, jumping or diving in.

Deb added: “A simple change to our behaviour can reduce the risk of drowning. Avoiding high risk areas, being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to react if you or someone else falls in can help save lives.

“The advice is to expect the unexpected when you’re in the water. The shock of cold water will make your muscles become weaker; you may not be able to keep yourself afloat or pull yourself out. Your body will shiver, which will affect your coordination and your swimming ability.

“Respect the water, even if you’re a good swimmer and familiar with the river, lake or reservoir. Be water aware.”

Further information and advice are available on the water safety section of Oxfordshire County Council’s 365alive website.

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Oxfordshire County Council Information Services Manager Charlotte Stacey is a diversity and inclusion champion for the council and the county’s fire and rescue service, and a proud advocate for LGBT+ communities and awareness.

She joined the council in 2014 and became an on-call firefighter in 2019. Alongside her day jobs, she established and chaired the council’s LGBT+ colleagues and allies’ network and helped other networks become established.

Charlotte, 43, who lives in Oxford, said: “I am immensely proud to have been awarded this honour as a role model and advocate. Each year at every Pride, celebration, or commemoration, I am reminded of how diverse and resilient our communities are and what a privilege it is to serve them.

“I have embraced every challenge and opportunity to overcome stereotypes and preconceptions. My aim is to build understanding as I’m a strong believer that there is more that unites us than divides us, and we have so much to learn from one another. I seek to educate and share this message with everyone from firefighters to chief officers, administrators to directors, councillors and many more.

“I have been able to help colleagues think about how they approach and make adjustments to better serve our diverse communities, and to be mindful of their situations, for example making our spaces LGBT+ safe and making the fire service visible and approachable to everyone as an inclusive employer.”

Charlotte has also championed change behind the scenes, writing and amending policies to make them more inclusive, promoting challenging and respectful conversations, and putting data into community engagement. Externally, she has built relationships with LGBT+ charities locally and nationally, supporting Prides in Oxfordshire and beyond.

“I’m so proud of what has been achieved in Oxfordshire,” she added. “Annually celebrating LGBT+ History Month; marking International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Transphobia with a display of young LGBT+ people’s artwork; and attending several Pride events with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, side by side with LGBT+ colleagues, families and allies.”

Charlotte’s goal is to reduce fear and misunderstanding and broaden inclusion.

“I’m very conscious that letters and labels don’t do justice to the spectrum of sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions. We still have a great challenge to embrace one another’s unique identities and characteristics.”

She is also keen to tackle hate crime, and make sure that people are not complacent.

“I have been attacked twice since moving to Oxford and was very well supported by Thames Valley Police. So, from a personal perspective, despite how frightening it may be, I actively promote standing up and speaking out, using, for example, StopHate.org to register incidents, and educating and empowering active allies.”

Oxfordshire’s Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall said: “We are thrilled that Charlotte is receiving this award in recognition of her work. She has been instrumental in driving forward the LGBT+ agenda within our fire and rescue service, nationally in the fire and rescue sector, and across Oxfordshire County Council.

“Her commitment has been driven by a desire to ensure that LGBT+ communities have a voice, whether this is residents or staff. She lives by this phrase – read more, listen more, ask more, share more, keep learning.”

Councillor Nathan Ley, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Inequalities and Community Safety, said: “We are delighted that Charlotte’s dedication to her community and to Oxfordshire has been recognised.

“The work of Charlotte and her fellow on-call firefighters makes a huge difference to the lives of so many people in our county, and we are all incredibly grateful to them for their commitment and community spirit. In this instance we're especially proud of Charlotte.”

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Roknor House, based in Bath Street, Abingdon housed a takeaway business on the ground floor and a hotel on the first and second floors. Fire safety inspectors from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service visited the premises in March 2021 following a tip off.

During the visit, several serious fire safety issues were identified. These included the fire alarm and emergency lighting systems not working, lack of adequate fire-resistant structure between the ground floor takeaway and the sleeping accommodation above and no fire risk assessment in place.

The premises were considered so dangerous that inspectors issued an immediate prohibition notice preventing sleeping in the property until fire safety measures were improved.

Mr Chuhar Singh of White Way, Kidlington pleaded guilty to six breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 at a hearing on 25 August 2023.

He returned to Oxford Magistrates Court on Friday 20 October 2023 for sentencing, where he was fined £20,000 and was also ordered to pay over £3,000 in costs.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service provides fire safety advice to businessperson and employees. Email: fire.service@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Fire and rescue crews work every day to save and improve the lives of people across the county. For more information, visit: 365alive.co.uk

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Options for a much-needed development of Rewley Road fire station have been under consideration for some time. 

A recent approach by a developer provides an opportunity to progress plans, designed to bring benefits for both firefighters and residents. The county council’s cabinet will receive a report on the subject on 19 September. 

The proposal is for a new two-bay fire station, providing modern facilities, on part of the Rewley Road site, with the remaining areas developed for other uses. This would release capital funds to invest in other buildings across the county, including fire stations. 

The project – which is still at the development stage with no firm timeframe agreed – would involve creating a temporary fire station on the existing site to maintain emergency cover throughout construction of the new permanent fire station.

The final fire station would be on a smaller footprint but still provide the same fire engine response time.

It is proposed that some vehicle resources will move to Slade fire station and possible alternative locations. This will give greater flexibility to respond to emergencies, across the county.

These changes would be subject to the redevelopment of Slade fire station to accommodate additional vehicles.

The details remain proposals, subject to public consultation. 

Subject to sufficient funds becoming available, other plans, under consideration, include constructing a modern community safety hub at Carterton fire station, consisting of a new fire station and training facility. 

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “These plans are at an early stage, and we are currently in discussions within our teams. 

“Community safety is of course paramount. I can reassure residents and businesses that no decisions will be taken that impact on our ability to respond to emergencies.

“Any proposals will ensure we maintain our average response times across Oxford. 

“We always value the thoughts of local residents and partners, so we will seek their feedback on our proposals in due course.” 

Further updates on the plans will be released in coming months. 

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Drowning in the UK is amongst the leading causes of accidental death with ten water related fatalities happening in Oxfordshire between 2020 and 2022.

In response, fire and rescue officers will be touring local schools and colleges across the county in the coming months delivering a new practical water safety training course. They will give practical advice on how to stay safe in and around lakes, rivers and reservoirs.

Some of these sessions will take place next to waterways, so the risks and dangers can be clearly pointed out in real world settings.

Deb Forder, Safety Manager for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Open water can look appealing, especially on warm days, but it is also very dangerous. That is why our tours of local schools and colleges and the practical advice we’re offering is so important, particularly as we approach summer when residents are more likely to be tempted to take a dip.

“Please consider things such as letting friends and family know your route near water and what time you should return. Carrying a whistle to draw attention if you do get into difficulties.”

There are many hazards under the surface that may entrap you or cause serious injury. Using supervised venues or swimming pools is much safer.

Even on a warm day, the temperature of a body of open water can remain very cold. Falling or intentionally jumping into water can result in a cold shock response.

Deb Forder explains: “You gasp for air. Meaning that you could breathe in water. You hyperventilate. This over-breathing can make you lightheaded and, as your brain is deprived of oxygen, you may become disoriented.

“Your body’s cold shock response, which speeds up the heart rate, may conflict with the diving response, which does the opposite, causing your heart to go into abnormal rhythms, which can cause sudden death.

“If you fall in, remember to relax, lean back and float (see image) until you can control your breathing.”

Anyone witnessing someone in trouble in the water should call 999 or 112 and shout for help. They shouldn’t enter the water themselves; instead throw something in that floats.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service warns that there are other dangers of open water. Be aware that:

• Reservoirs, lakes, rivers and other inland water may look safe and inviting, particularly on a warm day. But there are hidden dangers below the surface that could make people ill, cause injury, even kill.
• Even on a warm day, the temperature of the water in a reservoir, quarry or lake can remain very cold. The low water temperature can numb limbs and claim lives.
• From the surface, it is not always possible to see what is under the water. This could be anything from large rocks to machinery, from shopping trolleys to branches and even fish hooks or broken fishing line, all of which could cause injury.
• Moving water, such as rivers, might look calm but there could be strong currents below the surface. Even reservoirs have currents, caused by working machinery. Whether or not someone is a strong swimmer, currents can carry them into danger.

Across the UK, in 2020, over 250 people drowned needlessly and thousands more suffered injury, some life changing, through near-drowning experiences.

Oxfordshire is criss-crossed by rivers, streams, canals. Activities that are known to lead to the highest number of fatalities are walking, running, swimming, jumping or diving in.

Deb added: “A simple change to our behaviour can reduce the risk of drowning. Avoiding high risk areas, being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to react if you or someone else falls in can help save lives.

“The advice is to expect the unexpected when you’re in the water. The shock of cold water will make your muscles become weaker; you may not be able to keep yourself afloat or pull yourself out. Your body will shiver, which will affect your coordination and your swimming ability.

“Respect the water, even if you’re a good swimmer and familiar with the river, lake or reservoir. Be water aware.”

Further information and advice are available on the water safety section of Oxfordshire County Council’s 365alive website.

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Oxfordshire’s firefighters – accompanied by Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment fire appliance – will join a parade from Rewley Road Fire Station in central Oxford. They will then continue through the city on route to the main Oxford Pride event.

Oxfordshire’s firefighters will show their support and commitment to diversity and encourage people to consider a career in fire and rescue, particularly for on-call, part-time roles.

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are an inclusive organisation that serves everyone and are striving for greater diversity so that we can better engage with all the communities we serve. That is why we are proud to play a prominent role in this year’s events.

“In Oxfordshire, we welcome applications from LGBT+ communities, female, black and minority ethnic groups. These are all people who are underrepresented in our operational workforce, and we are determined to change that.”

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “As long-standing allies, of the LGBTQ+ community, we celebrate this important anniversary milestone. We support and respect members of the LGBTQ+ community, offering a safe working environment and exciting career opportunities.”

For further information about becoming an on-call firefighter, and other employment opportunities in Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, visit the recruitment webpage or email fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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The recruitment team is looking for individuals with proven leadership skills from a variety of sectors. Successful candidates would become fire station managers after completing a three-year training programme.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service believes this new recruitment process – which will sit alongside more traditional promotional routes within the service – will encourage applications from currently underrepresented groups.

It will open the door to people who have acquired leadership skills in many different backgrounds and sectors, with the fire stations benefitting from this expertise and wide-ranging experience. Successful candidates will not need to have previously worked as firefighters or have a background in fire and rescue.

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “Those recruited to these exciting roles will be expected to acquire and demonstrate skills and expertise in management, including leading and directing at major incidents. We will support them all the way in their development.

“Our main aim is to provide a different route of entry into the role of fire station manager, alongside the more traditional internal promotional path. It is a great way to diversify senior management, adding to the incredible skill base we already have among our existing leaders.

“I hope the scheme will draw new perspectives and experiences from the brightest and best of Oxfordshire and beyond, who might not ordinarily have considered a career in fire and rescue being open or attractive to them.

“Being an Oxfordshire fire and rescue officer is hugely rewarding. I am excited to see who puts themselves forward for these fantastic opportunities.”

For further information about Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’ direct entry scheme, including how to apply, please see the direct entry advert.

Alternatively, to discuss the role further, please email marcus.reay@oxfordshire.gov.uk or phone 07788 183050.

First person feature

Expect the unexpected …  a day in the life of an Oxfordshire fire station manager

by

Faisal Atcha  (pictured below)

Kidlington Fire Station Manager

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service

“I am calling it the ‘big T’. The emphasis on team, teamwork, and camaraderie. That is what a career in Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is all about.

“The fire station manager is a crucial part of this. They lead, support and coordinate an array of highly skilled and motivated individuals to achieve a common goal: to keep everyone in Oxfordshire safe.

“Like any high performing business, there are a vast number of roles that fire station managers conduct, ranging from developing staff, to testing the latest rescue and communication technology, and engaging with local communities and businesses.  

“Responding to emergencies is part of the role, but most of the time is focussed on preparing and preventing incidents from happening in the first place.

“The opportunity to join the service through the direct entry process is a fantastic one.

“If you think this might not be for you because you have not got a fire or emergency services background, please think again.

“The training and development support is second to none. Many of the skills and experience you have in your current roles are what we are looking for. Working under pressure, leading teams, being innovative, articulate, setting and working to high expectations.

“Taking the first step into something different is a big one, but you will be supported at each stage. Even though I did not join the service through a direct entry process, I was the first visibly different ethnic minority manager in my former service, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service.

“Being the first in anything can be daunting, but it is also exciting. Diversity brings a fresh perspective and with the support of your colleagues – and we pride ourselves on that in Oxfordshire – you help build on our forward-looking culture.

“If you were to ask me what are three key skills that you need I would say:

“The ability to communicate well with the public, your colleagues and the many partners who we work with.

“Persistence and resilience when things feel difficult, realising you are never alone and your colleagues are there to help.

“And knowing how to adapt. Expect the unexpected. You could have planned a full day to present a new way of working to colleagues. But instead find yourself in the middle of an industrial estate, working with your team, your crew, to deal with a major incident.

“I have worked in other services, and one thing that is clear about Oxfordshire, you do not just manage things. You lead and innovate, sharing your experience with some of the brightest and committed individuals you will ever meet.

“Not everyone wears a uniform or rides a fire appliance, but we all play a vital part in the jigsaw to help educate. And prevent accidents from occurring in the first place.

“At the same time, 24/7 we are at the ready, at a moment’s notice, to fight fires and attend incidents ranging from chemical spills to traffic accidents, even animal mishaps such as horses stuck in ditches!

“Fancy a change, a role with diversity, excitement, responsibility, and the support and training that goes with it? My advice, go for it! or at least find out more.

“For further information about Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’ direct entry scheme, including how to apply, please see the Direct Entry advert.

“Alternatively, to discuss the role further, please email marcus.reay@oxfordshire.gov.uk or phone 07788 183050.”

Notes

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is one of seven fire services, to join the pioneering pilot scheme, encouraging applications from individuals with proven leadership skills.

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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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The two hour ‘adults cycling with confidence’ training can be booked by emailing:

roadsafety.education@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

The session is practical and participants should come with their bike, safety helmet, and appropriate clothing.

The next sessions in January and early March are now fully both booked. However people who are interested in future sessions can email  RoadSafety.Education@Oxfordshire.gov.uk. 

Andy Ford, from Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Cycling is a great way to exercise and an environmentally friendly form of transport. However, it’s important that anyone using their bike is familiar with the Highway Code and the safety critical dos and don’ts, particularly on busy main roads and at junctions.”

Safety advice is also available on Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s website:

Cycle Safety | 365Alive

• Cycle at least half a metre from the kerb to avoid drains and gutters.
• Never pass nearside between traffic and the pavement especially close to junctions, particularly when there are large vehicles where the driver may not have seen you in their wing mirrors.
• Don’t ride on the pavement, except where it is designated as a cycle path. Where this is provided, moderate your speed and take care when passing pedestrians and give way at junctions.
• If a road junction is busy, do not feel you have to continue cycling. You can always get off, push your bike, or walk on the pavement.
• Don't weave in and out of traffic or change direction suddenly without signalling.
• Give pedestrians priority when necessary.
• Use your bell to inform other road users of your presence. Fit a bell if your bicycle is not fitted with one.
• If you are not confident cycling in moving traffic you may want to consider further cycle training.
• Wear a cycle helmet, high-visibility clothing or accessories.

Thank you

We received some very positive feedback from cyclists who attended our ‘adults cycling with confidence’ training sessions:

“Thank you very much to all the instructors. Lots of very useful advice and practice. Thank you very much especially to the instructor who accompanied me back to work, all her explanations and demonstrations were very useful.”

“I would highly recommend this course to others like me who are nervous about and unused to cycling in traffic.” 

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It may be that the warning changes over coming days and it is worth monitoring forecasts.

National advice

With weather forecast to remain warm, good advice on staying cool still applies.

• The government has advice on keeping cool at home and also staying safe in hot weather 
• The NHS has good information on the common signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heatstroke and how to cope in hot weather .
• The UKHSA's COVID-19 and summer temperatures blog post also provides  advice on how to stay well in hot weather.
• If you need medical help that is not life-threatening, contact NHS 111 who will give you advice and point you to the best service for your needs.

Advice from Fire and Rescue

Our Fire and Rescue Service advises the following given the dry ground after recent hot conditions.

• Extinguish cigarettes properly, don’t throw the end on the ground and never throw cigarette ends out of car window
• Don’t leave bottles or glass in woodland/grassland; sunlight shining through glass can start fires. Take them home and or put them in a waste or recycling bin
• Avoid using open fires in the countryside
• Only use barbecues in a suitable and safe area - never leave them unattended - dispose of the ash carefully when it is cold
• If you see a fire in the countryside, don’t attempt to tackle fires that can’t be put out with a bucket of water - leave the area as quickly as possible and report it to the Fire and Rescue Service immediately.

Meanwhile earlier this year firefighters undertook a campaign to give people good water safety advice ahead of the summer . This advice certainly applies during the current exceptionally hot weather.

Power cuts

Information relating to any local power/electricity issues can be found on the websites Powertrack and Western Power Distribution.

If people experience a power cut, the national number to call is 105. It’s free of charge.

I’m sure there are people who wish they could swap their existing careers for something more exciting. If only they knew, I work for a recruitment agency, specialising in IT half of the time.

Yes, it really is possible to have the best of both worlds, and that’s why I’ve decided to tell my story; to break some myths about what’s involved in becoming a firefighter and to encourage others to have a go.

When I’m doing the blue light stuff, it’s as an on-call firefighter. That’s the role Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service is currently recruiting for in many locations.

On-call is different to full time, because rather than it being your main profession, you’re simply called when needed. And on your terms. Each of us negotiates a contract with the fire service to be available for emergency calls at times and hours that best work for us.

In my case, that’s evenings and weekends, which means my boss at the recruitment agency knows my firefighter duties aren’t likely to clash with his company’s needs. And, of course, he benefits from having a very well-trained fire warden and first aider in his team!

I’m based at Faringdon Fire Station, just a minute’s drive from my home. That’s important, because when you get an emergency call, you need to get to the station and on to the incident really quickly. I’ll likely be driving the fire engine, so the crew relies on me to get them moving.

I applied to be an on-call firefighter just under five years ago. The training was varied but, to shatter a myth, it wasn’t just about how physically strong you are. Strength comes in many forms too – including mental strength and an ability to communicate and be a team player – so never dissuade yourself from finding out more because you don’t think you’re superhuman!

They tested me to start with in dexterity, initiative, ladder climbing, lifting and wearing breathing apparatus. You can see, that’s not just physical attributes.

Indeed, communication skills are really important for the modern firefighter. One side of my role I enjoy is showing school children, Scouts and Girl Guides around the fire station.

They’re the next generation of firefighters. We want to inspire them while they’re young, particularly when someone can apply to join the service just before their eighteenth birthday.

It's not just about recruitment either. Most importantly, the youngsters get to better understand fire safety and risk, such as not leaving their mobile charging at night and being careful when cooking. They can then use this knowledge themselves and take it home to remind their parents. Fire prevention is extremely important.

I’ve attended over 450 emergencies since becoming an on-call firefighter. That includes house fires, people trapped in vehicles, animal rescues, open water incidents, and dealing with hazardous materials. In the vast majority of cases there were no injuries or fatalities but, occasionally, residents do finish up in hospital or worse.

We’re supported. We always complete detailed after-incident debriefs and make sure any crew member who has attended challenging incidents gets necessary help if required.

Firefighters look out for each other. I have a wife and three children. They’re one family. But then I have this amazing second family, the fire crew, with their incredible camaraderie, trust and support. Best of mates, bonded by the many shared experiences we’ve been through together in keeping residents safe.

Making a difference to local communities is what gave me the incentive to join the service. I’m Oxfordshire through and through and an Oxford Utd fan. My six year old daughter loves football and I take her to the games. My three year old twins have already decided they want to follow daddy’s footsteps and become firefighters. I’m not sure if that’s on-call or fulltime!

But that’s the beauty of it. Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service gives you that flexibility. It’s a community fire service. It wants to attract residents to join from many different backgrounds. Different genders, ages, races, religions, sexual orientation. The ethos is that the diverse makeup of Oxfordshire’s population should be reflected in the fire crews that serve them.

You take many of the skills you learn beyond the fire service too. I used to get that queasy feeling when I went into a hospital. I’m sure many of you get it too. Now, having attended so many incidents and thanks to the brilliant training and support, I’m much more comfortable in such settings and now have advanced medical training.

Likewise, the communication skills I’ve learnt, I apply in everyday conversations and situations.

I hope by sharing my story and experiences, and challenging a few myths along the way, I’ve broken down some barriers and persuaded those of you who were in two minds about if you’d be welcomed into the fire service to give it a go.

You can find out more by visiting www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oncallfirefighters or by emailing fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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Inspectors assessed how effectively and efficiently the service prevents and protects the public against fires and how well it looks after staff.

The Inspectorate awarded Oxfordshire three ‘good’ ratings in its effectiveness, efficiency, and people categories.

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “To gain three grades of good is a massive achievement, particularly with the many challenges of COVID-19.

“I want to thank everyone from the firefighters on our stations, our officers and managers, our support staff and our control operators in the Thames Valley Fire Control Service. Without their fantastic levels of commitment and dedication, we would not be able to achieve what we do in protecting our community, reducing harm and saving lives.”

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “I am delighted to see the dedication and hard work of our fire and rescue service is recognised by the Inspectorate, including positive comments about the culture of the service.

“The inspection also recognised the work of increasing the safety of our residents through prevention activities, such as making people safer in their home, and education in schools. Likewise, it’s fantastic that protection work is praised, this is vital in ensuring workplaces are safe for the public and employees.

“Recent high temperatures demonstrated the extreme challenges that exist for our fire and rescue services. We can give residents reassurance, backed by the Inspectorate, that Oxfordshire has a modern service, with a positive culture, well placed to meet these challenges.”

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, added: “It is also right to recognise the contribution of our partners including the blue light services as well as the health trusts and voluntary sector. By working together, we will achieve our vision to be outstanding services that are community focussed and forward thinking; trusted, inclusive, and sustainable. This also supports Oxfordshire County Council’s wider vision of a greener, fairer and healthier county.

“As part of Oxfordshire County Council, one of the factors in our performance is the support we get from our broader teams. As a learning organisation, we welcome independent inspection and despite our strong performance, the Inspectorate has helped us identify areas for further improvement which will feed into our development and delivery plans.”

Fire and rescue services in England are subject to independent inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS). This comprehensive inspection in undertaken by a large and well trained team of inspectors who examine all aspects of performance. This includes operational response, prevention and protection services, the culture of the service and how staff are looked after.

Read HMICFRS’s full report.

If you are interested in joining Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service as an on-call firefighter, visit www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oncallfirefighters or email fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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Fire crews will be offering people from a range of backgrounds an opportunity to experience what it takes to be a firefighter, or a member of the fire prevention team. Participants will be able to ask questions to those already in the service.

At Kidlington there will be a chance to try out physical assessments such as ladder climbing and putting on breathing apparatus. Firefighters will also offer advice on how to build up strength and fitness.

The team will explain how the recruitment process works, how long it takes and what it is like being a firefighter, both whole-time, and on-call.

The overriding message is that Oxfordshire wants to have a diverse team of firefighters, reflecting gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.

On-call firefighters are everyday people with normal jobs and hobbies. They have flexibility to drop everything at a moment’s notice when they get an emergency call.

The recruitment campaign is designed to enhance community relationships, break down barriers and deliver the right service and advice at the right time, with the right outcome.

Kidlington firefighter, Oliver Highton, said: “Fire doesn’t discriminate, and neither does the fire service. If you think you have what it takes to be an on-call firefighter, we want to hear from you.”

Ideally on-call firefighters should live within five minutes of the nearest fire station, but anyone further afield is encouraged to get in contact; there are a range of other opportunities.

Businesses are being asked to allow employees to become on-call firefighters. Participating organisations often find they enhance their reputation by giving back to the local community.

The on-call workforce consists of individuals who provide variable levels of cover, to suit their work and personal lives. 

To pre-book on the ‘have a go day’ at Kidlington Fire Station on Saturday 11 June, and for details of future ‘taster’ days, visit Oxfordshire County Council’s website or email fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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A highlight of the prestigious event involved Oxfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Marjorie Glasgow BEM, presenting ‘Her Majesty, The Queen’s Long Service and Good Conduct’ medals to eleven firefighters, all who have each provided 20 years’ service.

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “These awards reflect the service and public’s appreciation and gratitude for each dedicated fire officer’s devotion to duty.

“I am delighted to be able to recognise the achievements of some of our teams, fire cadets and volunteers. It’s beyond comprehension just how many lives our medal and award recipients have collectively impacted during their careers. Congratulations to all on their fantastic achievements.”

Emily Spencer, Head of Operations at Blenheim Palace, said: “Hosting Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service awards ceremony is a great honour for us, and it is fitting such heroic achievements are celebrated in such magnificent surroundings. We would like to add our own thanks and recognition to the dedication and the bravery of our amazing firefighters.”

Pictured above are Banbury recipients: Fire Station Manager, Dave Edge (right), with Crew Manager, Daniel Evans – having both been awarded their 20 years’ service medals – joined by Phillipa Blair (centre) who had just been presented with the Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation.

Case studies – Chief Fire Officer’s Certificate of Commendation

Awarded by the Chief Fire Officer to members of the fire service, partner agencies or the public for acts of bravery, or performing to a high standard under difficult circumstances. This year’s certificates were awarded to:

1) Goring firefighter and his wife – Sean and Sue Absolom

Sean and Sue were recognised for their actions in assisting a seriously injured father and son who had been hit by a vehicle in August last year.

Sean – who is based at Goring Fire Station – was driving along Wallingford bypass with his wife when they saw a father and son waiting to cross the road. Suddenly the youngster, who was on his toy scooter, lurched forward. His father instinctively rushed to grab the boy, but both were struck by a minibus. The child was thrown to the left resulting in a severe head injury. His father hurled to the right resulting in a broken leg.

On seeing the accident occur, Sean jammed on his brakes, stopped his own vehicle and ran to the scene with his wife. Sean’s role as a firefighter means he is first aid trained, and Sue is a community responder for the NHS, so they switched instantly into their lifesaving roles.

With no equipment and no immediate back up, they prioritised treating the child who was unconscious with blood coming from his ear.

Sean quickly dialled 999 while Sue stabilised the young boy. She also intervened to stop a passer-by who wanted to move the child. Without a doubt, her actions saved the boy from further injury, as it was vital he remained still to prevent neck damage.

Sean spoke to a paramedic on his mobile, using the phone’s camera so that images of the injuries could be relayed to an oncoming ambulance crew.

After the incident, Sean received a phone call from the injured child’s mother and heard the great news that her son was on the mend. She also told him that the surgeon had advised the family that Sean and Sue’s prompt intervention had likely saved the life of her son.

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “Without Sue and Sean’s quick thinking and their combined trauma care skills, things could have been very different. I am really pleased that we can honour their selfless actions in how they dealt with this emergency.”

Pictured below: Sean and Sue Absolom receiving their Certificate of Commendation from (centre) Chief Fire Officer, Rob MacDougall.

2) Banbury and Hook Norton fire crews

Fire crews from Banbury and Hook Norton were recognised for their prompt actions in tackling a house fire, while carrying out emergency first aid on the occupant who had collapsed.

The two Oxfordshire crews joined colleagues from Warwickshire to attend a house fire at Winchcombe Farm in Upper Tysoe in January this year.

The occupants were alerted to the blaze by their smoke alarm sounding. Smoke was billowing out of one of the light fittings in the lounge and the couple thought initially it was an electrical fire.

They immediately called 999 and evacuated the property, but on leaving the building they saw the roof was on fire. The owner started to tackle the fire with extinguishers, then suffered a cardiac arrest.

When the crews arrived, they not only had to tackle the fire, but Hook Norton and Banbury firefighters undertook CPR in front of shocked family members and onlookers.

The crews worked tirelessly to stabilise the stricken individual while waiting for the paramedics to arrive. They administered lifesaving CPR for more than 20 minutes, most likely saving the individual’s life.

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “This is an outstanding example of where quick decision making and teamwork has undoubtedly saved a man’s life. It demonstrates the importance of our firefighters having the right skills to provide emergency medical care, and also their ability to react to the situation in front of them. The crews thoroughly deserve this additional recognition for their actions on that day.”

Pictured below (from left to right): Banbury and Hook Norton firefighters James Beadle, Neil Voce, Nigel Matthews, and Pippa Blair; with Chief Fire Officer, Rob MacDougall.

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Nick who played scrum half for Witney Rugby Club for 14 years said:

“Like in a rugby team, there’s a place for everyone in fire and rescue; from the heavily built, to the slim sprinter, the slow one, and the tall one.”

When talking to potential new recruits, Nick also describes the fire engine as “a huge toolbox on wheels”, reflecting the diverse range of incidents that he and colleagues attend. The vehicle is equipped to deal with each circumstance such as structural fires, road traffic collisions, water rescues, and hazardous materials incidents.

Diverse range of roles

What Nick’s getting at is that in today’s fire service, the diverse range of incidents and roles mean there isn’t a one size fits all. At 59, he is also keen to point out that age isn’t a barrier to joining the Oxfordshire team either.

Nick explains: “I remember someone saying to me, you’ll know when you’ve grown up; police and firefighters will all look younger than you. That’s not today’s fire and rescue service, I’m a fair example of that. I’m keen we recruit more older people, women and residents from minority ethnic groups. The modern fire service must be and should be diverse, reflecting multi-cultural Oxfordshire.”

This Woodstock based firefighter is opening a door to many people who have perhaps considered applying to join the service but thought that age, and lack of fitness, would go against them.

Much more than putting out fires

“Come and find out if you have what it takes,” enthuses Nick. “If you don’t try, you don’t know. Any new recruit will be given first class fitness training and because today’s fire service is so much more than putting out fires and attending major incidents, intellect is just as important as strength.”

In fact, Nick enjoys the interaction with local communities arranging road safety events, visits to local schools, safe and well visits in the home – fitting smoke alarms – and at the lighter but equally important end of the scale, participating in fundraising charity bashes like car washes in aid of the firefighters’ charity.

“We tend to have a topic for every month of the year to get a seasonal safety message out to the public,” says Nick. “My fire station is also prolific in raising money for children in need.

“If you’re a people person, you’ll fit in nicely.”

Challenging sides to the role

He acknowledges that there are challenging sides to the role, such as attending serious injury incidents but the fire service has evolved to protect and support its crews at distressing times.

“We always complete detailed after-incident debriefs, making sure any crew member who has attended challenging incidents gets necessary help if required. Luckily these tragic events are few and far between, which I hope in some cases is due to our interaction with communities through our fire safety and road safety education initiatives.”

Cats and dogs

Nick continued: “Children used to get their heads stuck between metal railings but today’s youngsters are too busy on their computers to cause such mischief! I do have a selection of animal rescue stories though.

“There was the householder who loved her cat more than her tree. When, after many hours, I had to explain that the only way to recover her feline from the topmost branch was to cut down her treasured tree, she agreed!

“Then when there was a call to rescue a lad trapped in a gate, turned out to be a Labrador. Lad. Lab. It’s amazing how a crackly line can blur expectations of what we’re going to find. I can assure you that whether it’s an animal or a human, we treat every incident seriously, and I’m delighted that we quickly rescued the pooch.”

Proud grandad

“I’m a proud grandad to my seven month old Logan. The family stuff sits side by side with everything that’s special about being a member of Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service.

“My new family member got me thinking of another reason why we want more older residents to join the service. Our younger recruits are stars but we often lose them all too quickly. When they start, they might be living at home but then move out of the area to find their own place or to chase their career dreams; on-call firefighters are only part-time.

“The further you get in life, often the more settled you become. Your career outside the fire service plateaus, you’ve less time to go until the mortgage is repaid. You’re settled with your lot in life, looking for an extra commitment to play a part in your local community.

“I guess my message is that you’re never too old to be considered. Straightforward, if you’re in two minds about joining the fire service – get in contact.”

Get in contact

Nick sums it up: “Remember, I’m 59, nearly 60. I’ve been a firefighter for 18 years and I love it as much as the day I started.”

For further information about becoming an on-call firefighter, and other employment opportunities in Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, visit Oxfordshire.gov.uk/oncallfirefighters or email fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk

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The CRMP details priorities until 2026, divided into four categories: response, prevention, protection, and people and wellbeing. The plan’s objectives include:

• Becoming a more diverse workforce.
• Targeting residents most at risk from fires and accidents.
• Reducing risks in commercial buildings and acting when dangerous situations are found.
• Maximising resources to provide the quickest responses to emergency calls.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: “I very much support the vision and priorities in this community risk management plan. Reducing risks and assisting those who are most vulnerable reflect my ambitions to make Oxfordshire a safe place to live and work. I also applaud the ongoing determination to make our fire service a more diverse workplace, building on recent and forthcoming recruitment and awareness campaigns.”

 To help shape the CRMP a three-month consultation recently took place with Oxfordshire residents and stakeholders. It received over 230 responses, including 83 through an online consultation portal, and with 149 members of staff consulted in group sessions.

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I am proud to be launching this community risk management plan. It clearly sets out what we need to achieve over the next four years.

“We have been involved with the National Fire Chiefs Council in developing processes for creating community risk plans and this has helped us to develop our plans. I see it as a blueprint for excellence, a clear statement that everyone in the fire service is determined to make Oxfordshire even safer in the coming months and years.”

The CRMP is available on Oxfordshire County Council’s website.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service

There are 25 fire stations across Oxfordshire, with 34 fire engines and a number of specialist vehicles.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service collaborates with partner services in Buckinghamshire and Royal Berkshire. This joint working has resulted in the purchasing of shared fire engines and equipment.

Since 2015, a joint control room handles all emergency calls across the three fire and rescue services. This ensures fire engines get to incidents as quickly as possible.

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The pedal power crew, in partnership with the Gym Group, will be on static bikes, set up at Headington Retail Park – next door to Homebase near Costa Coffee – on Monday 20 December.

Henry Bosley, Watch Manager at Slade Park Fire Station, and organiser of the event explains: “Our team of six cyclists, made up of firefighters supported by family and friends, will be cycling an equivalent length of the English Channel, raising money for the many good causes supported by the Fire Fighters Charity.

“It’ll be exhausting but hugely rewarding. We’ll cycle in relays taking short rest periods. When we combine the distance covered by each of us, it should be well over the target 350 miles.

“We’ll also be using the event to raise awareness of our anti-drink/drug driving campaign, plus promoting fire safety in the home; it so important at Christmas when candles and decorations create extra risks.”

Henry and his colleagues will be available to talk to anyone interested in a career with Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service.

For further information, email Henry.Bosley@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

Fundraising donations can be made through JustGiving.

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Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service recognised the achievements of its staff and teams in two ceremonies at Blenheim Palace.

Oxfordshire’s Vice Lord Lieutenant attended the prestigious event to present ‘Her Majesty, The Queen’s Long Service and Good Conduct’ medals to nine firefighters, all who have each provided 20 years’ service.

The Lord Lieutenant, Tim Stevenson OBE, also attended, and presented medals to eight firefighters. It was his last official duty as the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire prior to his retirement, after 13 years’ service.

Richard Bowley, an Oxford resident, was presented with a certificate to recognise his 40 years’ service, initially as a firefighter; then following his retirement from operational duties, as a valued member of the service’s Incident Command Team, based at Slade Park Fire Station, Headington. (see image, above)

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “Having had to postpone last year’s ceremony because of the pandemic, I am absolutely delighted that we have now been able to mark and recognise these remarkable achievements. These awards reflect the service’s and public’s appreciation and gratitude for each dedicated fire officer’s devotion to duty.”

Emily Hirons, Head of Operations at Blenheim Palace, said: “We’re delighted to be able to once again host the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service awards ceremony here at Blenheim Palace. All of us owe a huge debt of gratitude to our incredible firefighters and it’s an honour to be able to welcome them here to the palace.”

Case study – 14-year-old awarded for saving his family from a house fire

Special recognition went to 14 year old West Oxfordshire resident Max Ebeling, who received the Chief’s Commendation for 2021. (see image, below)

In the early hours of 19 March 2021, Max was woken by a cracking and popping noise in the corner of his bedroom. On investigation, he discovered the fuse board below his bedroom next to the front door was on fire.

Max acted quickly and alerted his family to the unfolding situation. At this point the smoke detectors had not gone off due to the location of the fire, which was spreading in the ground floor ceiling void and adjacent to the front door. On reaching the first floor landing the smoke detectors sounded the alarm and the family quickly escaped down the stairs past the developing fire, through the back door of the property, where his father dialled 999.

Due to Max’s quick and calm actions, he gave the family valuable seconds to escape before the exit route became smoke logged and potentially impassable due to smoke and fire. Although the smoke detectors set off as designed, Max’s quick thinking resulted in a safer, faster exit from the property.

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer, said: “Max was an absolute star – his quick thinking and calm actions saved his family from serious injury or worse. Max is a worthy winner of the Chief Fire Officer Commendation.

“This story highlights the importance of having working smoke alarms in your home and checking them regularly.”

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The Mayor, Councillor Mocky Khan, volunteered to role-play a driver trapped inside a crumpled vehicle, at the town’s fire station.

He experienced the claustrophobia of being trapped inside, relying on the expertise of Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service to cut him free. Watch the ‘car cut’ rescue on ITV Meridian.

Andy Ford, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s road safety manager, said: “As the Mayor of Didcot discovered, it is terrifying being trapped. But imagine if you’ve suffered major injury, or if the vehicle is ablaze, or slowly submerging in water following a crash into a river or lake.”

Once ‘rescued’, the Mayor was given a guided tour of the new training centre at Didcot Fire Station. It is now Oxfordshire’s central hub for road traffic collision training. The venue gives crews an all-weather facility to practice rescue techniques for a range of traffic incidents, from motorcyclists to crashes involving buses and large goods vehicles.

The car cut exercise also helps trainees gain valuable experience using rescue equipment and real people, in a safe and controlled environment. It prepares them to play an active part in the ongoing road safety campaign – ‘It’s not worth the risk’ – highlighting the contributory factors in road traffic collisions across the county:

• Not wearing a seatbelt
• Distraction
• Speed
• Drink and drugs

Drivers and passengers are twice as likely to die in a crash if they are not wearing a seatbelt. Even careful drivers can be distracted, by a phone call, text message, in-car technology, or a Satnav. A split-second lapse of concentration could result in a crash.

Using a mobile phone when driving increases the chances of a crash by four times.

The campaign promotes safe alternatives for drivers who rely on their phones. This includes, diverting calls to the messenger service or having a no calls rule when driving. Passengers could also be asked to make or take calls instead of the driver.

The faster someone drives, the less time they have to stop when the unexpected happens. Research shows that for every mile-per-hour increase in speed, there is a three per cent increase in the risk of a road traffic collision.

Many crashes happen because the driver loses control, particularly on bends or in wet or icy conditions. The message is: drive for the road conditions and give time to react by reducing speed. The difference of a few miles per hour could mean the difference between life and death.

Drinking alcohol and driving puts all road users in danger. The only safe option is not to drink alcohol. It’s not worth the risk, and there are always safe alternatives such as taking a taxi, bus, or train; designating a ‘dry’ driver, walking home, or deciding to stay overnight.

Andy Ford continued: “Oxfordshire has more rural roads than most counties. This means drivers must be alert, drive sensibly, safely and share the risk, from the moment they turn the ignition key.

“The fatal four are contributory factors in the deaths of drivers, their passengers, other road users and pedestrians. But, in most cases, these deadly collisions are avoidable.

“If you cause a collision, it can result in life-changing injuries to you, and to anyone else involved. You will also carry the terrible guilt, and for what? For the sake of a lunchtime drink, a phone-call, or saving a bit of time? It really isn’t worth the risk.”

For further information about the Fatal Four and how to drive safely, visit the website: www.365alive.co.uk/fatalfour

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The campaign aims to make businesses aware of their fire safety responsibilities; complying with legislation to keep both premises and occupants safe.

Many Oxfordshire businesses had to close their doors or change ways of working due to COVID-19. As they reopen, owners and those responsible must review fire risk assessments to reflect any changes they have made in response to the pandemic. Staff should be suitably trained, fire equipment checked and maintained; and checks made to ensure that any COVID-secure measures do not compromise fire safety.

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Help is at hand for local businesses. We offer free advice and guidance to minimise the risk of fire in the workplace. This fire safety support is available throughout the year, with the campaign week encouraging people not to delay reviewing safety measures.”

Advice is also available to businesses on reducing the risk of arson by taking simple steps to protect premises. There were more than 4,700 deliberate fires in businesses in the UK in 2019-20. Most attacks are unplanned and opportunist crimes.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service provides help in reducing false alarms in the workplace, which often have an impact on business productivity. With around 44 per cent of fire service call outs in the UK being as a result of false alarms they increase pressure on fire service resources and time, both of which could be spent on dealing with genuine emergencies, community prevention and protection activities.

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services and Safety, said: "Our fire service is committed to helping businesses get back to work, so they can continue to make their valued contribution to the economy and local communities.

“The last eighteen months have been extremely challenging, but fires can have devastating impacts on businesses, with many never recovering. That’s why help and guidance are available; and I encourage business owners to get in touch with our fire safety team."

Business owners can book fire safety advice by emailing Community.safety@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Videos

False alarms in business:

False alarms - impact:

Protecting business from arson:

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The vintage machine - featured on ITV Meridian - was in fact making its homecoming, having been an emergency vehicle at the Woodstock residence in the late 1800s. It was delivered by fire crews, some wearing historic period uniforms.

Chris Wilson, from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, explains: “We like a challenge and are proud of our heritage, so when Blenheim approached us, asking if we could help track down their steam powered machine, we couldn’t resist. The steam engine was eventually discovered in Warwickshire after we had a tipoff that its pump was stored at Nuneaton Fire Station.”

The vintage engine dates from the late 1800s and is a similar model to one kept at Rewley Road Fire Station in Oxford, which was purchased in 1886 in readiness for Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee celebrations.

At the time, this was state of the art equipment, coinciding with a new Public Health Act, which required water to be piped into cities and towns. Local authorities took the opportunity to start local fire brigades as the water supply was now readily available through ‘fire plugs’ or hydrants.

“The pump is a little dusty and could do with a polish, but overall, it’s in good condition,” says Chris. “It won’t be operational of course, but it will make a fantastic visitor attraction, adding to the wonderful heritage already on display at Blenheim Palace.”

Notes

Image: Courtesy of Blenheim Palace.

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service officers Corrin King – in vintage fire kit – with colleague Galid Goldshmidt, delivering the Victorian steam fire engine to Blenheim Palace.

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Nathan Crockford, who is based at Burford Fire Station, suffered severe leg damage after crashing into a car that pulled out in front of his motorbike. The force of the collision threw him over the vehicle and onto the road.

“I’m lucky to be alive,” says Nathan (pictured above). “If I hadn’t been wearing a safety helmet and the correct protective clothing, goodness knows how serious my injuries would have been. That is why I’m supporting this hard-hitting safety-first campaign, which is taking place in Oxfordshire and across the Thames Valley during March.”

Nathan’s injuries put him in hospital for ten days. He was unable to return to the fire service for 18 months. Nathan has recovered physically but has to live with a metal rod inserted into his leg bone. The psychological scars also remain.

Nathan said: “The accident wasn’t my fault – the car pulled straight out at the junction. It was impossible for me to stop or swerve out of harm’s way. But, I regularly ponder if I should have been more alert to what might be around the next corner or hidden at the next crossing.

“That is what this Ride Safe campaign is all about, encouraging every motorbike rider to be vigilant constantly, and to refresh and improve their road safety skills and knowledge on a regular basis.”

Watch Nathan sharing his dramatic story on ITV News Meridian.

Motorcyclists represent around two per cent of total road users but are involved in nearly a quarter of collisions, nationally.

Ride Safe involves Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service organising safety awareness events with local riders to highlight the importance of bike maintenance, wearing proper riding kit, and the benefits of further rider training.

Motorcyclists are being encouraged to improve their riding skills and hazard awareness.

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “Motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users, but they can play a big part in keeping themselves safe. I encourage every motorcyclist to ride responsibly, wear all the necessary safety clothing, travel at safe speeds, appropriate to the conditions they face; and attend one of our Ride Safe sessions.”

Andy Ford, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Community Safety Manager, said: “Motorcyclists are over-represented in collision and casualty statistics, both locally and nationally; and that is something we’re determined to change. With increasing numbers of people taking to two wheels, our aim is to encourage riders to do all they can to ride safe; and stay safe.”

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service already works with colleagues in Royal Berkshire and Buckinghamshire to provide the Biker Down! initiative covering collision management, basic life support, and hazard awareness. Hundreds of people have taken the course in the last few years.

Other partner organisations supporting the Ride Safe campaign include Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Thames Valley Police, and motorcycle riding groups across the region.

Further details about Ride Safe events are available on the 365alive website.

(pictured below, Andy Ford)

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 looking to recruit local firefighters who participate in a wide range of activities in the local area, from responding to emergency calls to supporting safety needs. They also provide crucial prevention advice to help keep residents safe.

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service, said: “On-call firefighters are everyday people with normal jobs and hobbies. On top of this they are professional firefighters who make themselves available at certain times to respond to emergency calls either from their home, their work or their community.

“Working for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service means you become part of a close-knit team, earn extra money and receive full and ongoing training to develop a broad range of transferable work and life skills.

“We are an inclusive organisation and are striving to reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone with the right attributes, but particularly we welcome applications from female, black and minority ethnic and LGBT+ communities who are underrepresented in our operational workforce.”

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service offers a flexible work pattern to fit around individuals’ studies, work and family commitments.

On-call firefighters participate in a wide range of activities in the local area, from responding to emergency calls to providing prevention advice; all to help keep residents safe, reduce harm and ultimately save lives.

Attributes needed by on-call firefighters include:

• a strong desire to support the local community
• enthusiasm for working as part of a team
• a reasonable level of fitness
• live or work within a close distance to the local fire station (approximately five minutes).

There are currently 390 on-call firefighters in Oxfordshire.

Anyone interested can visit www.oncallfire.uk – to find out what is involved in the role. For residents wanting more information or to apply to be an on-call firefighter, they can email fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk using the subject title on-call week enquiry.

It is easy to be consumed by the tantalising aroma of a delicious, warm pancake sprinkled with lemon juice and sugar. But such a mouth-watering distraction might mean fire safety is not at the forefront of the mind!

Fat and chip pan fires can be devastating, with a very high proportion of fires resulting in injuries.

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “Making pancakes can be lots of fun for the whole family and they certainly can be delicious. However, over half of all accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen. So please take care, especially when cooking with hot oil. Avoid the need to call firefighters to your Shrove Tuesday celebration.”

Kevin Morgan, Community Safety Manager for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “When using a frying pan or cooking with hot oil, never leave the pan unattended when the heat is switched on. Don’t move the pan if it is on fire. Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so. And never throw water over it. Don’t tackle the fire yourself. Get out. Stay out. Dial 999.”

Residents are also reminded that when they have finished cooking, make sure that all appliances are turned off and the cooking area is clear.

Working smoke alarms will greatly increase chances of escaping unharmed if there is a fire. An escape plan is recommended, so everyone inside the property knows exactly which way to leave and where to go once safely outside.

Smoke alarm tips include testing them every month, changing batteries every year – unless it is a 10-year alarm – and cleaning them properly at least twice every year by vacuuming the inside.

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

The inspection assessed how effectively and efficiently the service prevents and protects the public against fires and how well it looks after staff.

Her Majesty’s Inspector, Matt Parr, commented in his findings: “The service responded well during the pandemic and provided additional support to its community.

“It used its wholetime and on-call firefighters to respond to emergencies, and the increased availability allowed the service to support its partners, especially the local ambulance trust. This meant the people of Oxfordshire were well supported through the pandemic.”

Rob MacDougall, Oxfordshire’s Director of Community Safety and Chief Fire Officer, said: “Our service puts the safety of Oxfordshire residents at the heart of everything we do.

“Our teams work around the clock, not only during a global pandemic but every single day of the year to support those in need. When things go wrong and residents require our support, we respond quickly and effectively.

“When the pandemic first peaked in 2020, we began working with South Central Ambulance Service and we continue to support it by providing firefighters to drive ambulances and assist their crews. These firefighters are all volunteers from within the service and we thank them for their tremendous effort.

“Our officers and support teams also used their command and project management skills to support the wider Oxfordshire response to the pandemic and were at the heart of many initiatives that supported our communities.

“The recognition from HMICFRS, following our response to the pandemic, is welcomed. I would like to thank everyone who contributes and works hard as a member of our service to protect our communities every day.”

Yvonne Rees, Chief Executive of Oxfordshire County Council and Cherwell District Council, said: “The message to our communities in Oxfordshire is that we have one of the best fire and rescue services in England here in our county upon which residents can rely every day to protect, prevent and respond in times of need.”

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council and Cabinet Member for Fire and Rescue, said: “Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is a key partner amongst our regional emergency services. I am proud to see that the hard work of our staff, particularly to all those who supported our ambulance service has been recognised in this inspection.

“Inspections are an important way to get objective feedback on how a service has responded and continues to respond to the pandemic. We are grateful to HMICFRS for its time and commitment throughout this inspection.”

Due to the current lockdown and pressure on the National Health Service, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service remains available to support South Central Ambulance Service.

The inspectorate also recognised the work the service carried out alongside the county council’s emergency planning team in supporting the Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum. This involved putting in place necessary command structures to respond to the pandemic and to continue providing services to members of the public.

The pandemic has resulted in unprecedented changes to the way many organisations deliver services and the use of digital technology is no exception. The inspection found that Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is continuing to improve and use technology to ensure it is working in the most effective and efficient way.

The service adapted its free safe and well visits to telephone calls, working with residents to help reduce the risk of fire in the home. During these calls, firefighters provide advice and support to reduce any immediate risk from fire, flooding or power cuts. It also provides advice on health and crime prevention. The service confirmed that it is still conducting high risk safe and well visits in a COVID-19 secure way.

Residents can request a safe and well assessment using the form on the council’s website.

Notes

• The service was inspected by HMICFRS in October 2020.
• In August 2020, the home secretary commissioned HMICFRS to examine how fire and rescue services in the UK are responding to the pandemic.

Ambulance crews across the country face a common problem when responding to an emergency 999 call for help. It is not uncommon for them to arrive and find that the resident, incapacitated by injury or illness, cannot reach their door.

Previously paramedics have turned to police colleagues to force entry to a locked property so they can provide vital first aid care. However, a year-long trial across Thames Valley has demonstrated that involving firefighters in the first-call attendance can result in faster response times, less damage to property, and most importantly, improved outcomes for residents requiring emergency medical treatment.

In a collaboration involving the three fire and rescue services of Thames Valley, alongside South Central Ambulance Service and Thames Valley Police it was identified that fire crews are trained to achieve safe, quick, effective access in situations where buildings are locked tight. Using equipment carried on their vehicles, they can help reduce the damage that forcing an entry can cause.

Over the twelve-month period of the trial, fire crews responded to 626 Thames Valley incidents where enabling entry was required, with an average response time of nine minutes. As soon as the crews had gained access, unless their assistance was required further at that incident, they were placed on standby ready to respond to the next emergency call.

South Central Ambulance Service crews have seen a reduction in time spent waiting to enter properties and this, alongside quicker intervention, has led to faster re-deployment of their crews during the recent trial.

Thames Valley Police has also seen a benefit. It has estimated that as a result of the fire service involvement, more than 200 hours of police time has been saved. This has not only generated a financial saving but importantly allowed for resource to be freed up to prevent, respond to and investigate crime across the Thames Valley.

Grahame Mitchell, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service - speaking on behalf of the Thames Valley Partnership - said: “By working together, this initiative sees our firefighters helping open the door to specialist treatment and care more efficiently and more effectively than emergency services have been able to before. It is another example of where joint partnership working can save valuable time and could save lives, helping to deliver improved outcomes for the communities we all serve.”

Mark Ainsworth, from South Central Ambulance Service, said: “We welcome the findings of this trial and are keen to move forward in looking at ways to make this a more established way of working.

“In many cases, the faster the response and initiation of appropriate treatment, the more positive the outcome and the quicker the recovery time for the patient. People often need immediate medical intervention and in extreme cases, a delay can be the difference between life and death.

“With their access to equipment which enables safe, quick access to a locked building, firefighters are helping our paramedics and emergency first response teams provide ill and injured residents with quicker access to the specialist treatment and care they need.”

The benefits of this new collaborative approach have already improved patient outcomes, freed up police time, enabled ambulance personnel to access and treat patients more effectively, and enabled them to be available sooner for other medical emergencies.

A Memorandum of Understanding, which outlines the next steps of this new partnership arrangement, has been signed by the three chief fire officers across the Thames Valley, along with the Thames Valley Police Chief Constable and Chief Executive of South Central Ambulance Service.

Hidden behind many a curtain are some of the most vulnerable people in the county. Some rely on relatives and neighbours to check their well-being, but that support is less readily available because of social distancing.

Tara has become their lifeline; and with her love for people, she is thriving in making a difference.

“I’m employed by Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue, based at Kidlington. The service is much more than fighting fires; I’m proof of that,” says Tara.

“I used to work for County Council’s social and health care team on their helpdesk. One day, in 2018, I shadowed Fire and Rescue’s community safety officers. I knew it was the career for me; applied for a vacancy and never looked back.”

Tara is one of five Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s community safety advisors. They have visited over 100 vulnerable people in their own homes since mid-March.

The role ranges from fitting smoke alarms and giving general advice regarding fire safety, to managing more complex situations, such as assisting alcohol and drug users, and residents with mental health issues.

Tara primarily advises and supports from a health and safety perspective; but regularly works alongside other professionals including social workers, trading standards, environmental health, and housing officers.

Vulnerable

Visiting some of the county’s most vulnerable residents is even more critical during COVID-19 lockdown. But the challenge Tara and team faces, in these unprecedented times, is how to enter homes without the risk of infection from COVID-19. They treat #Stopthespread extremely seriously.

“I’m almost unrecognisable,” says Tara.

“I sometimes arrive in a respirator mask – the type firefighters use when wearing breathing apparatus is not necessary. I could also be wearing an apron, gloves and glasses. We are equipped with varying levels of PPE designed to cope with any situation we might be confronted with, such as IIR masks and face shields, and cloth face masks.

“In many cases, I hardly see the resident. They’ll stay in a separate room whilst I’m fixing their smoke alarm or removing anything that’s a fire or hygiene risk, such as piles of rubbish or rotting food.

“But some people are desperate for company. I am the first face they’ll have seen for months.”

Craving company

Tara cites one particular case when she recently visited a resident with dementia.

“This poor lady was placing orders for groceries but forgetting to put food in the fridge or freezer. It was heart-breaking when I entered; the smell of rotting meat and fruit.

“They craved for company too, having not seen anyone in months, other than the food delivery guy.

“We did OK. We found a way to communicate as safely as possible. I made sure she was comfortable in her armchair, then I hovered by the living room door, chatting at a safe distance.

“I left that property feeling I’d made a real difference to someone’s life. The decaying food removed. Equally importantly, I’d brightened a lonely resident’s day, providing that missing human contact she’d yearned for.”

Tara’s respirator mask and other personal protective equipment (PPE) are essential in her job, and although she wears a less dramatic facemask when going to the supermarket, she never lets down her guard.

Follow the rules

“I can’t risk getting COVID-19,” says Tara.

“My role involves helping others. If I had to quarantine, that would be one less person to visit vulnerable residents across Oxfordshire.

“I always remind family, friends and colleagues of the importance of regularly washing your hands, following social distancing, and wearing a face mask.

“The day when we can see people without worrying about infection can’t come soon enough. But we’ll only get there if we all follow the rules, both professionally and in our everyday lives.”

Ansaf Azhar, Director of Public Health for Oxfordshire County Council, said: “Tara and her community safety colleagues are taking great care to abide by national guidelines that are keeping us as safe as possible. I urge everyone in Oxfordshire to continue to follow their example. Don’t relax and give COVID-19 the advantage. Together we can stop the spread.”

Anyone concerned about a vulnerable resident should phone 01865 895999 so that Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service's safety team can investigate.

Or visit the website: www.365alive.co.uk/cms/content/safe-and-well

#Stopthespread

The team of 25 are pushing their bodies to the limit by ‘planking’ – this is a Pilates style exercise using core strength to hold yourself up from the floor.

Appropriately, they began their challenge on VE Day (75^th anniversary), meaning the final ‘plank’ takes place on 21 July. They have already raised £2,000.

The team consists of a mixture of both serving and retired firefighters, armed forces veterans, fire and rescue support staff and Friends of the Fire and Rescue Service. All have signed up to doing a five-minute 'plank' on each of the 75 days.

They are raising awareness and funds for SSAFA, the armed forces charity that provides lifelong support to serving men and women and veterans from British Armed Forces and their families.

Kidlington-based firefighter Mick Dunn, who has organised the challenge, said:

“We’re incredibly grateful to all those contributing and supporting us.

“’Planking’ strengthens your spine and various body muscles, so for serving firefighters, not only are we raising money for a very important cause, we’re also improving our physique for when we’re next called on to rescue residents or tackle a blaze.

“We owe a massive dept of gratitude to the armed forces and their families; VE Day 75 was a time of reflection; it motivated our 25 brilliant fundraisers to commit to this unusual challenge.”

Rob MacDougall, Chief Fire Officer, Oxfordshire County Council, said:

“I’m incredibly proud of our ‘planking’ fundraisers.

“As firefighters, we have a very close bond with the armed forces and recognise they are huge part of Oxfordshire’s community.

“It is a fantastic effort! 75 consecutive days is a real physical and psychological endurance test. Our teams regularly encounter challenging situations with courage and professionalism to keep our residents safe, but this one is of their own making. I hope it will raise awareness of the SSAFA charity and that people will want to donate to support this important cause.”

To donate to Oxfordshire firefighters’ ‘planking’ fundraiser for the armed forces charity, visit:

Just Giving: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mick-dunn1966

Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/289669932047478

Photos: Mick Dunn (left) and Sam Hitchcock, from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, ‘planking’ fundraising for the armed forces charity.

That is why Father’s Day advice from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service is for dads – alongside other residents – to stay safe; reminding everyone about the dangers of fires.

Data from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service shows that most people injured in fires are males, aged 30 to 59.

Nearly 50% are hurt trying to fight a fire or returning to burning property in an attempt to retrieve possessions.

Andy Ford, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, explains:

“People don’t realise how quickly fire spreads. Or that just a couple of breaths of smoke can be debilitating, meaning they cannot get themselves out of the house and away from the fire.

“Our message is Get Out, Stay Out and Call the fire service out!

“Close doors behind you to reduce the spread of fire and smoke, if you can and it is safe to do so.

“Our firefighters have the latest kit and breathing apparatus to enable them to go into a property and deal with a fire. The quicker everyone staying there is out and calls 999, the quicker we can get there to tackle the blaze.

“We know that dads are heroes for a huge number of reasons; but dying or suffering serious injury by trying to fight a fire isn’t going to make you a hero to anyone.

“Get out, stay out. Get the fire service out.”

Local companies have had to adapt to new ways of working over the past three-months, many now face great challenges going forward.

However, fire officers are on hand to help them return to work safely as COVID-19 restrictions are eased.

Gabby Heycock, Head of Protection for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said:

“We are here to support businesses the best we can during these challenging times.

“Our fire safety inspection team is working hard in providing guidance to ensure that companies and customers across the Thames Valley are safe to reopen. They are on hand to answer any questions.”

New ways of working may mean business needs have changed, and so it is important fire risk assessments are reviewed to ensure they continue to reflect the new situation.

Factors that could impact on a fire risk assessment include:

• Changes to work processes and their implementation, such as new equipment.
• Temporary changes to how the premises are used, for example, introduction of sleeping on site.
• Alterations to the building, including the internal layout.
• Substantial changes to furniture and fixings.
• Increase or change to the amount of stock kept on premises.
• An increase or decrease in the numbers of staff or customers.

Businesses are encouraged to check they are still able to safely evacuate everybody; and ensure the fire assembly point is still workable with social distancing in mind.

Other considerations include:

• The amount of rubbish being generated, and ensuring it is properly disposed of to reduce the risk of arson.
• Ensuring means of escape are adequate for the number of people in the building and their needs; and kept clear of obstructions.
• Making sure new members of staff are properly trained, including any additional training needs that arise from the latest fire risk assessment.
• Checking the fire warning system and emergency lighting work correctly, and whether they have been tested whilst the building has been closed.
• Employees should be reminded not to prop open fire doors. Minimising contact with door handles may be at the forefront of people’s minds, but they must not use wedges or extinguishers to hold open fire doors.

Businesses can contact Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service by:

Email: fire.service@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Phone: 01865 895999.

Further advice is also available from Oxfordshire County Council’s website here.

Also read here New approach to Business Fire Safety Week delivers for Oxfordshire takeaways.

This is in response to the coronavirus pandemic and following a national agreement between The Fire Brigade’s Union, the National Employers and the National Fire Chief Chief’s Council,

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service staff, who have volunteered to assist their blue light partner, will be using their emergency response driving capability and their medical skills to support SCAS personnel to respond to emergency calls.

They will be trained to respond to all emergency calls under the supervision of a SCAS team member and will have all the necessary PPE to protect themselves.

Oxfordshire’s Fire Brigade’s Union have been very supportive and have assisted the service to develop this initiative.

Steve Wright, from Oxfordshire’s Fire Brigade’s Union, said: “The FBU are aware of the challenges that all of us are facing during the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are committed to protecting our members and the communities we serve. Our communities are pulling together to get through this period of uncertainty and so are Oxfordshire’s emergency services.

“The FBU are grateful to Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s Gold Command Team, who have worked tirelessly with SCAS to ensure our Firefighters who are supporting the Ambulance service, will have the appropriate training and PPE. We’re all here to protect our residents and to do this, we must ensure the safety of personnel is a top priority.”

Assistant Chief Fire Officer, Jo Bowcock, from Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are pleased to offer support to a blue light partner in order to better protect and respond to the needs of our communities during such an unprecedented time.

“Our ability to release a small number of people is only possible as a result of the collaborative work with the local Fire Brigades Union and the commitment of our firefighters to keeping fire engines available. We also recognise the dedication of our fire and rescue support staff to keep our critical services available.”

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service have stated their priority is to continue to provide a first class emergency response to local communities.

Being aware of domestic fire risks could save lives. Tips include checking plug sockets are not overloaded and smoke alarms are working correctly.

Oxfordshire County Council’s Chief Fire Officer, Rob MacDougall, said:

“It is vital that in these uncertain and unprecedented times people don’t forget about basic fire safety in the home.

“The checks we are advising will take just a few minutes to carry out and keep you and your family safe. Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.

“We would also like to remind residents that Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue service is operating as normal. Call 999 if you need us, many people get injured trying to fight fires. Remember, get out, stay out; leave the firefighting to us.”

For further information, visit the website:

www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/fire-and-public-safety/fire-and-rescue-service/fire-safety-advice/safety-advice

More tips and advice below:

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.

The service strives to ensure its personnel are representative of the local community. Participating in LGBT History Month sends a clear message; no one should fear prejudice when applying to become an on-call firefighter.

Simon Furlong, Chief Fire Officer for Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said: “For me, diversity covers many areas, such as gender, age, race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity.

“If our personnel represent the community, we will better understand local issues. In turn, we’ll be able to enhance community relationships, break down barriers, and deliver the right service and advice at the right time, with the right outcome.”

Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service will be organising ‘taster’ days in coming months, offering people an opportunity to experience what it takes to be a firefighter, or a member of the fire prevention team. Participants will be able to ask questions to those already in the service.

After unfurling the rainbow flag, Simon Furlong outlined his vision. He said:

“I want an Oxfordshire where residents feel safe and secure. Served by a Fire and Rescue Service, where lives are saved and prevention advice given by a team who reflects the community makeup. Residents are at the heart of these plans. I want everyone in my team to passionately embrace diversity and make a positive difference to help Oxfordshire thrive.”

The LGBT rainbow flag was designed by Gilbert Baker in San Francisco, in 1978. Originally it featured eight stripes, now six, each representing a meaning, quality or value:

Red = life 

Orange = healing 

Yellow = sunlight 

Green = nature

Blue = harmony/peace 

Purple = spirit 

For further information about joining Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service, visit the website: www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/oncallfirefighters or email fire.recruitment@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Stevie Morse is looking forward to her turkey on Christmas Day, but she knows family festivities might be disrupted abruptly by a pager message.

That’s because she is one of the dedicated Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service’s on-call firefighters, ready to respond to an emergency at a moment’s notice.

Stevie (29) is based at Burford Fire Station. This is her third year on duty on Christmas Day and she knows from experience that festive distractions can trigger an emergency.

She explains: “Two years ago I finished up attending someone else’s Christmas meal, not as a guest, but to put it out!

“The family had popped round to neighbours, leaving the potatoes to boil. The water in the pan evaporated and a small fire started. Luckily the smoke alarm was triggered, and we were called and able to extinguish the flames before they caused serious damage.

“Nevertheless, there was some smoke damage, and the family was in an understandable state of shock. Not the ideal Christmas Day for them.”

Stevie, who is just five-minutes’ drive away from Burford Fire Station, keeps fit ready for all eventualities through her regular job. She is a personal trainer and assistant manager at Eynsham Hall Health and Fitness Club.

This puts her in good stead when Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service assess her fitness during regular treadmill tests. Stevie was also required to complete upper and lower body exercises and grip tests at the recruitment exam.

Stevie knows that drink and distractions can contribute to accidents and emergencies, especially at Christmas.

“Most people understand that if they’ve been drinking, they don’t drive, but it’s often Boxing Day when revellers get caught out,” says Stevie.

“Alcohol might still be in the system, meaning someone ‘behind the wheel’ is less alert, with slower instincts. My message is: please avoid driving the day after you’ve been drinking. It’s fine having a merry Christmas Day, but you should never be complacent the morning after."

Further advice here on when you could drive the day after drinking alcohol.

“I wish everyone in Oxfordshire a happy and safe Christmas," says Stevie. "That means avoid being distracted when cooking the big family meal, and if enjoying a bit, or a lot, of your favourite beverage; don’t drink and drive. And avoid the car the following day too, until you’re confident the booze has left your system.”

Throughout other parts of the county, firefighters will be on standby, like Stevie, to ensure local emergency cover.

Paul Webster (49) is the whole-time fire station manager for Abingdon, Wantage and Faringdon.

With 27 years’ experience, Paul has done the Christmas Day shift many times before and has seen many festivities disrupted because of accidents.

Paul explains: “My role as a duty officer is to respond to an emergency and take over as the incident commander. This means I coordinate the firefighters who attend. I don’t go to the fire station, but instead leap into my response car and drive straight to the emergency.

“A fire or road traffic accident can be just as devastating on Christmas Day as it is on any other day, and the same safety advice applies.

“My festive message is: make sure you have a smoke alarm and regularly check the batteries. If there’s a fire, get out, stay out, and dial 999. As heart-breaking as it is to lose your presents or Christmas meal to a fire, losing your life or suffering burns or injury is even more devastating.

“I have worked many Christmas Days and remember some for the wrong reasons, including car crashes, domestic fires; even a restaurant blaze in Witney a few years ago.

“I hope I’ll have a quiet family Christmas this year, but if you do need Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue Service on 25 December, like Stevie, the turkey comes second. I’ll drop everything to swiftly attend whatever the emergency.”

Oxford Water Safety Group – bringing together representatives from Oxfordshire County Council and City Council, fire and rescue, the Environment Agency, Thames Valley Police, and ambulance service – will be distributing an advice leaflet and safety items throughout the day.

Rotten gang planks, damaged ropes and complacency about fire risks aboard vessels are among the many dangers that boaters expose themselves to every year.

Fires on boats can spread quickly and be harder to reach than buildings on land. There is often only one compartment and the flames and fumes can spread rapidly.

The county council is committed to helping people live safe, healthy lives and to play an active part in their community.

Councillor Judith Heathcoat, the county council’s cabinet member for safety, explains:

“Safety is everyone’s responsibility.

“Smoke alarms are inexpensive and will give everyone valuable time to escape safely.

“Maintaining vessels is so important. Rotten gang planks can collapse, resulting in anyone standing on them tumbling into the water.

“Boats might drift out of control if mooring ropes snap, striking and damaging other boats and structures before sinking. And boating under the influence of alcohol is another accident risk.”

Russell Robson, from the Environment Agency, said: “We are pleased to be supporting this event. We want all boaters to be aware of the dangers and to take sensible precautions to avoid unnecessary accidents.”

West End in the town will remain closed to traffic but the bottom end of Wood Green and the junction of West End and Hailey Road have re-opened to traffic.

At its height around 60 firefighters tackled the blaze in a scrapyard. Crews in attendance were from Oxford, Witney, Burford, Wheatley, Deddington, Eynsham, and Chipping Norton.

Multiple water jets were in use at the scene.

Crews will remain on scene for at least the next 24 hours for on-going firefighting activities.

Three fire engines from Banbury and Hook Norton Fire Station were called to the report of a house fire on Middleton Road at 6:15pm on Wednesday, February 7.

On arrival, the crews were faced with a fire that was rapidly spreading to the ground floor and the occupier informed the crew that a large number of snakes and other exotic animals were kept in the property.

On arrival, the crews were faced with a fire that was rapidly spreading to the ground floor and the occupier informed the crew that a large number of non-venomous snakes and other exotic animals were kept in the property.

Four fire fighters wearing breathing apparatus and using high pressure hose reels managed to make their way into the basement with thermal imaging cameras to extinguish the fire.

A large fan was used to remove the smoke which had spread throughout the building and it was at this point that crews reported that a large number of snakes had escaped from their housing.

Around 100 snakes in total were recovered by fire fighters to be reunited with their owner for rehoming.

The fire investigation started as soon as the fire was out and it was determined that the most likely cause was electrical

Watch Manager John Callaway said “We quickly established that the snakes were non-venomous and that no specialist assistance was needed. It was unfortunate that some hadn't survived the fire but many were saved.

"It is not uncommon for fires to be started due to an electrical fault and I urge anyone with concerns about fire safety in the home to visit our website 365alive.co.uk or to seek advice from a competent electrician”.

Following an announcement this morning that Carillion PLC had entered liquidation, the county council put contingency plans into action to ensure that services would continue to be delivered.

Read our initial response here and to find out more look at the FAQs at the foot of this page

Schools reported that staff came to work and had no issues feeding children. The county council sent a message via schools before the weekend to reassure Carillion staff that we would ensure they are paid, and asking them to continue working in the event anything happened to Carillion.

Oxfordshire County Council remains ready to step in to deliver lunches

Firefighters spent the day on standby to deliver lunches if needed and will remain on standby for Tuesday 16 January in case of any issues with staffing or food deliveries. However following contact with all of our suppliers the county council does not expect this to be necessary.

The county council ordered 500 packed lunches, which were not needed today and have been offered to homelessness charities. Of these 30 were donated to the Aspire charity in Oxford. The rest have been properly refrigerated by our caterers, with around half to be donated to the Pathways charity in Oxford and the remaining ready for schools use if required (if not they will also be donated to Pathways). 

Cllr Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Cabinet Member responsbile for Property, said:

“I visited Fire HQ in Kidlington today and saw that we were well prepared for Carillion’s collapse. I’d like to thank Carillion staff in our schools for coming to work as usual and making sure that children were fed, and their school cleaned. I know this has been a worrying time but I would like to reassure all staff that we will ensure they are paid. Thanks also to the fire service who were on stand-by though fortunate weren’t needed today.”

Response to national media coverage

In response to national media coverage we were asked why we had ended our contract with Carillion early.

Alexandra Bailey, Director of Property, Assets and Investment, said:

"In spring 2017 we decided to begin negotiations to end our contract with Carillion. We had concerns over their performance, particularly in respect of construction projects, but we also wanted to deliver a more ambitious agenda around property than the contract allowed. 

“We worked on a mutual agreement with Carillion to end the contract but in a phased way, so services were brought back in house one by one, the first being construction.

“We had already agreed with Carillion to bring facilities management (including cleaning and school meals) back in house on 31 March 2018.

“It was only after we’d reached agreement with Carillion to end the contract that the company’s financial difficulties became clear, and this news helped to explain some of the poor performance we had experienced. We then accelerated the process of ending the contract and bringing services back in-house.

“That work will continue now that Carillion has been liquidated."

FAQs on Carillion 

(updated 23 January)

What is the position with the council’s contract with Carillion?

On 22 January the county council announced it was termintaing its contract with the company as from 1 February 2018 - it had planned to terminate the contract at the end of June 2018.

The county council had signed a 10-year agreement with Carillion in 2012 to provide a range of services including key support services such as routine property management, facilities management, energy management and the design and build of capital works such as building new schools and new classrooms.

There were, however, some issues with the Carillion contract, particularly on the construction side. This was reported to the county council’s Cabinet in March 2017 and we intended to work with the company to address the problems.

Around the same time, our property strategy started to change and we worked on a mutual agreement with the company to end part of the contract, including school maintenance. That was announced in July 2017, and we said then that we would look at the remaining part of the contract, which included school meals and cleaning.

Following that review, we agreed with Carillion to end all remaining parts of the contract.

When the company’s financial position became clear, it helped to explain some of the performance issues we had. We then accelerated the process of ending the contract

Are your suppliers affected by this news?

Yes. Our immediate need has been in facilities management, to contact suppliers of school meals in time for lunchtime on 15 January, of which there are six main suppliers. We have since been contacting all other suppliers which includes those supplying cleaning materials to schools. We are covering all ongoing deliveries from 15 January, the date the company entered liquidation. Our message to suppliers has been to place their orders as normal, as it is business as usual. We cannot deal with any monies owed by Carillion for deliveries before that date.

How many schools have been affected?

The county council has 101 schools who are supplied school meals or cleaning services, or both through Carillion, to around 18,000 students.

Of these, 56 schools are maintained schools (i.e. council-run) and have an agreement with the county council to receive school meals, with the work sub-contracted to Carillion. Those contracts were due to be brought in-house, including staff, on 31 March 2018 but this will now happen from 1 February, as mentioned.

The other school meals contracts are directly with Carillion and cover both maintained schools and academies. Academies may decide to bring their staff in-house directly.

We are providing legal and HR advice and support, as appropriate, to affected schools and have set up advice lines and email contact addresses for schools to use.

What other facilities management has Carillion been providing for you?

The service has included some routine building maintenance which will also be transferred back to the county council.

What about construction and maintenance work at schools?

For those schools currently signed up with Carillion they are being advised to use Carillion’s help desk while they source other suppliers. This is available 24 hours a day and can be reached by calling 08081 566659 or emailing: ceccommunities@carllionpoc.com. The county council is providing assistance if schools need help in arranging an alternative maintenance solution.

You ended a large part of the contract last July. Are taxpayers having to pick up any costs?

There are no costs to the council tax payers of Oxfordshire arising from the early termination of contracts, then and now.

There is concern that pensions for Carillion staff may be affected. What is the position?

Many of the staff affected have Oxfordshire local government pensions which are not affected by the liquidation. We can’t answer for what will happen to Carillion and other third party pensions but the Government has now issued the following guidance:

“Anyone worried about their pension situation can ring The Pension Advisory Service (TPAS) on 0300 123 1047 for free and impartial guidance. TPAS has also set up a special helpline number for members of these pension schemes: 020 7630 2715. Those already receiving their pensions will continue to receive payment.”

The Environment Agency has issued Flood Alerts for the following areas, though waters are subsiding and are not expected to threaten properties:

• River Ock from Watchfield to Abingdon and also the Letcombe Brook at Wantage, Grove and East Hanney
• River Windrush from Bourton to Newbridge
• River Cherwell from Lower Heyford down to and including Oxford
• River Thame and Chalgrove Brook
• Langford and Wendlebury Brooks from Stratton Audley to Merton
• River Cherwell from Charwelton to Upper Heyford
• River Cole and Dorcan Brook
• River Evenlode from Moreton in Marsh to Cassington and the River Glyme at Wootton and Woodstock
• River Ray and tributaries from Shipton Lee to Islip
• Upper River Great Ouse in Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
• River Thames and tributaries from Calcott to Lechlade

Update: 28 Dec 7:15

Ice warning still in place from Met Office so road users and pedestrians should are warned about black ice, following several accidents last night.

Update: 27 Dec 21:50

Black ice alert: Gritters went out at 7pm and have nearly completed their run. Even so, emergency services have been called to several accidents involving black ice. Their advice is not to drive unless essential and take great care if you do go out. Gritters are going out again immediately they finish.

Update: 27 Dec 16:33

There are currently two implemented road closures at Marsh Gibbon and at Long Hanborough, plus road impassable at Woodeaton. Please do not enter flood water.

There is a Yellow Warning of Ice for tonight and tomorrow morning.

There is a Cold Weather Alert Level 3 from tonight to Saturday, meaning 90% likelihood of temperatures consistently near to or below freezing.

Gritters will be back out around 7pm this evening to combat tonight’s sub-zero temperatures.

Oxfordshire's Libraries will shut at 5pm tonight to allow staff to get home safely

Update: 27 Dec 10:50

Road closure - Lower Rd Hanborough is closed under the railway bridge due to flooding

 

With rain turning to snow overnight, Oxfordshire's gritters have been out twice overnight. 

The first treatment run headed out at 23:00 to get salt down ahead of the snow. Snow started falling to the west of the county at approximately 2 – 2.30 am with some areas seeing in excess of 50 mm, while the east saw slushier conditions. 

Crews were back at the depots by 6am after a second run around the county and will be back out again to target the worst affected areas, including the higher ground to the west, including Banbury and Chipping Norton to Burford in the North and Faringdon and the higher ground (Uffington Hills) in the south.

We'll have more updates throughout the day.

Gritting runs

• We aim to keep a network of major roads as free as possible from ice to minimise the risk of accidents. Precautionary salting (or ‘gritting’) helps to achieve this aim.
• More information on routes and when the gritters are going out is here. We always advise people to take extra care even when roads have been treated.

Grit bins

• Grit bins were refilled at the start of winter and are being refilled at the moment. There is more information on salt bins here.
• We do encourage self-help. There are around 1300 salt bins across the county for the public to use on the public highway, including footways. Some Town and Parish Councils have snow warden schemes.

Pavements and cycle paths

• Footways only get limited attention by the county council because clearing them is very labour intensive. Only major shopping areas are likely to be treated with salt/grit in the early stages following snowfall.

Snow guidance and government advice

• You can view our Oxfordshire Snow Guide (pdf format, 428KB) The Government also has a ‘snow code’, which covers liability issues.

Information and social media

• Follow us on Twitter and Facebook to receive updates by social media.

Vulnerable children and adults

• The emergency duty team of social workers (EDT) is on call 24/7, including over the Christmas period. Safeguarding concerns should be reported to 0345 050 7666 (office hours) or 0800 833408 (out of hours).

Community planning

• The county council provides advice and support for communities that want to develop a local resilience plan, so they are prepared for extreme weather and emergency situations. More information here.

Power failure

You can call 105 to report or get information about power cuts in your local area.

You can also call 105 if you spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put you, or someone else, in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, you should call the emergency services too.

105 is a free service, available to people in England, Scotland and Wales.

You can call the number from most landlines and mobile phones.

The event was funded by the sale of limited edition Roll of Honour t-shirts and generous donations by the current Eynsham crew. The unveiling was followed by a pig roast and get together and £890.95 was raised for the Fire Fighters Charity with a raffle and kind donations from the guests.

The board currently lists 96 firefighters and has space for the names of future firefighters that will join the crew.

Firefighter Colin Jacob who had the initial idea of producing the board said “When we embarked on this task Stuart and I never realised the work that would be involved and the sleepless nights we would have preparing this Roll of Honour. We are incredibly proud of the work and effort that the entire Eynsham crew has put into this to make this day so special for everyone involved”.

Patrick Evans, who served from 1956 until 1988 said: “I was a great honour to be asked to take part in the unveiling”

Eynsham Fire Station and others across the county are still actively looking for on-call firefighters and would like to hear from anybody interested in such a role.

Oliver Cameron who lives in Wantage was born with a large tumour in his heart that causes his pulse to elevate to dangerously high levels that could ultimately kill him.

Oliver needs this tumour removed urgently and the only place that this operation can take place is in Boston, America at the Boston Children’s Hospital. Desperate mum Lydia, 28, and dad Tim,30, have the daunting task of raising £150,000 pounds which will cover the cost of this life saving operation. Unfortunately, the NHS don’t have the expertise to operate on Oliver.

Currently Oliver lives with a fitted heart rate monitor that communicates directly with Southampton Hospital and due to the frequent attacks that Oliver has Lydia and Tim live in constant fear that the next attack will be the last.

The crew from Wantage will be hosting a Charity Carwash to try to help raise money for Oliver. Watch Manager Sean Mienie from Wantage Fire station said “We feel really saddened by the desperate situation that Oliver is in and we will do whatever we can to support the family. Although we know that £200 000 is a lot of money to raise every little helps in reaching the total so we can help get little Oliver well. I have two young girls of my own and I can’t even begin to imagine the stress that Lydia and Tim must feel daily.”

The carwash will take place on Saturday 29th July between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at Wantage Fire station in Ormond Road, Wantage. Oliver needs your help so please support us in this event and come and meet your local Firefighters or you can donate at http://www.gofundme.com/oliversheartsurgery

A crew from Bicester Fire Station helped young Alan and his mum on friday evening, after he inadvertantly got locked in the family car.

The crew were able to assist by gaining the keys to the car, just as Alan finally managed to press the button himself as the crew had the spare key!

All's well that ends well - Mum and son reunited!

Live in Bicester? Follow Bicester Fire Station on facebook!

One of the council’s highway officers came across a large tree branch blocking the carriageway and contacted colleagues from the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service via the council’s customer service centre. A specialist team was sent to cut up and remove the offending timber, restoring order the well-used local road.

Until recently contractors dealt with all fallen trees on the road but it is thought that in many circumstances a fire service response could restore safety and traffic flows more quickly. The county council’s regular contractors will remain available to do this work if the fire service has more pressing priorities.

Paul Wilson, Highway Network Resilience Coordinator, said: “Trained firefighters from the Specialist Rescue Team are now turning out to remove dangerous fallen trees from the highway as part of a special trial.

“The trial seems to be going well as this latest piece of work shows.”

Jason Crapper, “The Fire and Rescue service is an integral part of the county council and it makes sense that we test whether using our specialist skills and resources can benefit residents to save time, maintain safety and save money.”

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

Trained firefighters from the Specialist Rescue Team are now turning out to remove dangerous fallen trees from the highway.

Until now the county councils contractors deal with all fallen trees on the road but it is thought that in many circumstances a “blue light” response could restore safety and traffic flows more quickly. The county council’s regular contractors will remain available to do this work if the fire service has more pressing priorities.

So far the team has been to incidents at:

Chazey Close, Chazey Heath

Woodstock Road, Oxford

Bourne Lane, Hook Norton

Devils Hill, Harpsden

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

Penalty points

If caught you could now get 6 penalty points on your licence and a fine of £200. Your case could also go to court and you could be disqualified from driving or riding and get a maximum fine of £1,000. Drivers of buses or goods vehicles could get a maximum fine of £2,500.

With the recent changes in law regarding mobile phone use, it’s interesting to ask why the changes to the law have been brought in.

Shocking findings

The Transport Research Laboratory conducted a study of the effects of mobile phone use whilst driving, using the benchmark of a person having a blood alcohol count at the legal limit. The results are shocking as their graphic shows.

Reaction times

Mick Clarke, Oxfordshire County Council’s Fire and Rescue Service Road Safety Manager explained: “Your reaction times are hugely affected by holding a conversation on a mobile phone, primarily because of how we communicate.

“When you have a face to face conversation with someone, the majority of information you absorb from them is actually non-verbal - you read their body language and do so unconsciously.

“If you remove the visual cues by having that conversation over a mobile phone your brain has to work that much harder to process the conversation.

“When putting the activity together with a skill that requires both cognitive and psychomotor function to be working in harmony – in simple language thinking and moving in response to two different things at once -  the effects can be devastating.

“The vast majority of people who obey the laws are to be congratulated for helping to keep our roads safer. Those who are still using phones when they drive need to take the opportunity to change their habits now.”

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.”