Thousands of lives saved thanks to Fire Stop project

The success of the Fire Stop project that has saved thousands of lives and thousands of pounds for the tax-payer.

In just three years, over 11,000 properties have been visited and approximately 22,000 smoke alarms have been installed as part of the project, helping to reduce accidental dwelling fires for the third year running.

The project brought together local firefighers and staff from the council’s home improvement agency with a single aim - to fire proof as many homes in Rochdale borough.

Firefighters trained council staff from the council’s Home Improvement Agency in how to recognise fire hazards and carry out home improvements that would minimise the risks of accidental house fires as an extra consideration to their day job. Staff were also trained in how to give the residents they visited life-saving fire safety advice.

In a special celebration to thank and commend all the firefighters and council staff involved with the Fire Stop project at Rochdale Fire Station this week, Martyn Ward, Rochdale’s Borough Commander for Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, said: “The Fire Stop project is another wonderful example of successful partnership work. The commitment from the council’s staff to embrace the training and put it into practice as part of their day job confirms how committed agencies are in Rochdale borough to working together to achieve the best results.

“Together, we were able to make thousands more homes safe from fire than any agency would be able to achieve working alone. This was a truly pioneering project.”

The Fire Stop project is currently being reviewed. In the future smoke alarm installation will no longer be routinely offered as part of the home improvement agency visits. Instead the teams have plans to focus on helping those people who are most vulnerable to accidental house fires based on research and local statistics, for example the elderly and disabled will be key audiences.

Kathryn Andrew Service Development Manager for the Home Improvement Agency at Rochdale Borough Council added: “By focussing our energies on making sure those people who are most vulnerable get the help and support they need to stay safe we hope to be able to provide a more strategic and cost-effective service going forward.

“But anyone can still request a free Home Fire Risk Assessment from the fire service. So I’d like to remind people that it’s better to be safe than sorry, make a life saving decision and book an appointment today on 0800 555 815.”