Kempston Community Fire Station Action Plan -18
This Station Action Plan outlines how Kempston Community Fire Station will contribute towards protecting our local communities, responding to emergencies and preventing fires and other incidents. The risks our communities face are set out in the Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) which also details how we plan to ensure that your Fire and Rescue Service contributes, in a co-ordinated and meaningful way, towards keeping our communities safe. The document is available to view at www.bedsfire.com Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue service is committed to providing an equal Service to all within Bedfordshire, actions identified within this station plan contribute to this commitment and helps to ensure that the Service supports all communities. Bedfordshire fire and Rescue Service has a key strategic service delivery objective: To respond effectively, manage risks and reduce the number of emergency incidents that we attend. To achieve this objective we will pursue the following Service priorities: Making Every Contact Count; ensuring that we make every possible use of the contact that we have with vulnerable people in society by way of education and advice and, where appropriate, making referrals to partner agencies. Service Delivery Effectiveness and Improvement; providing excellent prevention, protection and response functions to our communities and making improvements to these functions aligned to our changing risk profile so as: o To Keep People Safe in Their Home; o To Keep People Safe at Work, When in Public Places and During Their Leisure Time; o To Keep People Safe When They Travel. Firefighter Safety; keeping our operational Firefighters as safe as possible through the application of robust risk assessment processes, appropriate training, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and other equipment. The rest of this Station Plan sets out how Kempston Community Fire Station fits into delivering these objectives during /18. 2
Community Risk Profiling Kempston is divided into four wards Kempston Central and East, Kempston North, Kempston South and Kempston West with a total population of 19,330. Kempston Central and East The population of Kempston Central and East is 7,136 and is made up of approximately 51% females and 49% males. The average age of people in the area is 38, while the median age is lower at 37. Communities who have settled in the area include those from India, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Kenya, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, and Pakistan. 86.5% of people living in the area speak English. The other top languages spoken are Punjabi, Polish, Italian, Lithuanian, Bengali, Gujarati, Tamil, Urdu, and Romanian. Kempston North Kempston North has a population of 3,734 and is made up of approximately 51% females and 49% males. The average age of people in the area is 38, while the median age is also 38. Communities who have settled in the area include those from India, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Kenya, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Ghana, and Pakistan. 91.4% of people living in in the area speak English. The other top languages spoken are Punjabi, Polish, Lithuanian, Italian, Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, Bengali, French, Tamil, and Chinese. Kempston South In the 2011 census the population of Kempston South was 4,099 and is made up of approximately 52% females and 48% males. The average age of people living in the South is 38, while the median age is also 38. Communities who have settled in the area include those from India, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Kenya, Jamaica, Ghana, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe. 90.8% of people living in the area speak English. The other top languages spoken are Punjabi, Polish, Malayalam, Italian, Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, French, Urdu, Russian, and Slovak. 3
Kempston West In the 2011 census the population of Kempston West was 4,361 and is made up of approximately 52% females and 48% males. The average age of people in the West is 38, while the median age is lower at 37. Communities who have settled in the area include those from India, Scotland, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Wales, Pakistan, Northern Ireland, Ghana, and Kenya. 90.6% of people living in the area speak English. The other top languages spoken are Polish, Punjabi, Italian, Persian/Farsi, Urdu, French, Bengali, Lithuanian, and Portuguese. Working with Experian, the UK s leading provider of consumer measurement and analytical services, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has utilised Customer Insight Profiling and has identified the following Groups with Kempston Station Ground as specifically being at higher than average risk of accidental dwelling fires. Risk Group At risk of: Suggested Equality Ideas Group 1: Less affluent social renters with high fire risk Group 2: High risk, elderly singles reliant on state support Group 3: Transient young singles with high risk and few interventions Group 5: Young, urban, mixed ethnicity families with moderate fire risk Cooking fires Naked flame/combustible material fires Smoking related fires Accidental dwelling fires Cooking fires Accidental dwelling fires Cooking fires Naked flame/combustible material fires Smoking related fires Accidental dwelling fires Cooking fires Naked flame/combustible material fires Smoking related fires We will look to provide fire safety information in range of community languages We will see about visiting day centres to provide information to elders and where appropriate their carers We will look to target students in the area attending Fresher s Week for example We will look to provide fire safety information in range of community languages In addition the Kempston Station Ground contains a significant number of households classified as Affluent Families. While these groups overall risk is very low in regards to fire, they do present a greater risk of being involved in road traffic collisions due to the amount of cars within the household. 4
Further evidence also shows that younger people and motorcyclists are more likely to be involved in a road traffic collision. Drivers who speed, drink drive, drive under the influence of drugs or use mobile devices whilst driving not only put themselves at greater risk, but also endanger the lives of other road users. Kempston Station Ground contains the following specific road risks: M1 motorway; A421 running though Kempston from east to west linking A1 and M1 motorway; A6 running through Kempston towards Luton; Various rural B roads to adjoining villages within the Kempston area. Customer Insight has identified the 2 Mosaic Groups prevalent in the Station Ground that have high levels of car and motorcycle ownership and complete high levels of annual mileage. These groups are: Group 6 - Rural families and couples. Group 7 - Affluent families in suburban locations. In addition to the road risk identified within Kempston Station turn out area there are a number of large structural buildings presenting a significant risk if involved in fire. These premises are inspected as part of an annual inspection programme, with Site Specific Risk Information being collated and updated and made available to fire crews who may attend incidents at these premises. These buildings are numerous but include: Bedford Hospital South Wing; Bedford Prison; Infinos Power Station Brogbrough; Charles Wells Brewery; European Oat Millers; Veolia Environmental Services; 5
Yarlswood Detention Centre; Various High Rise Accommodations. Protection Business premises and public buildings such as schools are highly important to our local community as they provide both local services and employment opportunities. The majority of businesses affected by a fire never fully recover as custom is lost to competitors. In order to protect these buildings and ensure the safety of building users Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service delivers a risk based inspection programme under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. Kempston Community Fire Station will complete 192 Fire Safety Inspections during /18, this equating to 4 per watch per month. 6
Prevention Activity In order to reduce the risks identified above Fire Crews at Kempston Community Fire Station will undertake a range of Prevention Activities. Activities Period/Dates Target Audience Watch Allocated to: Electrical and cooking safety 20 th -26 th November Red Watch Accidental dwelling fires Cooking fires Cooking safety BBQ/Summer June 2018 White Watch July Blue Watch Child Safety Week 5 th 11 th June Green Watch RLSS Drowning Prevention 16 th - 26 th June Kempston RDS Hot Strike after incident response, following all calls to domestic fires Throughout /18.. Where it is clear that language is a difficulty we will use the services language card to identify the appropriate language and ensure that the appropriate fire kills translated leaflet is left for the tenant or family All Watches 7
National Fire and Rescue Campaign Calendar The National Fire and Rescue Campaign Calendar provides a yearlong series of National Fire and Road Safety campaigns and initiatives. In order to reduce the risks identified above. Kempston Community Fire Station will support the following campaigns and initiatives: Campaign Date Target Audience Watch Allocated to: National Road Safety Week 20 th 26 th November. Red Watch Alzheimer s/deaf Awareness Week Q2 15 th 21 st May. White Watch Chimney Fire Safety Week/ Wood Burners 5 th 11 th September. Blue Watch NPCC Driving and Mobile Phones 23 rd -29 th January 2018 Green Watch Carbon Monoxide Awareness 18 th 25 th November Kempston RDS Christmas Campaigns December All Watches Kempston Cadet Unit will be taking part in, and assisting with Watch campaigns throughout the year /2018 Cadet Unit 8
Home Safe and Well Visits We will make people safer by educating them in their home by delivering a programme of Safe and Well Visits. Acting on referrals from partner agencies Kempston Community Fire Station will deliver Safe and Well Visits to vulnerable households in the community. A Safe and Well visit may include any of the following elements: Home fire safety advice; Installation of smoke alarms and safety equipment; Crime Prevention Advice; Falls Risk Assessment; Smoking Cessation; and, Alcohol Audit. The elements that will be included in each individual Safe and Well visit will be determined by risks present in the household and the agreement of the occupier to engage in each element of the visit. Fire Cadets Kempston Fire Cadets is open to all young people aged between 13 and 17 years old (school years 9-13). Fire Cadets gain an excellent knowledge of the Fire and Rescue Service and learn the skills that our Firefighters use to save lives and protect the public such as the wearing of Breathing Apparatus, hose running, ladder climbing, and first aid. As part of the national Fire Cadet scheme, Fire Cadets will have the opportunity to work towards a recognized BTEC Level 2 Award in Fire and Rescue Services in the Community and/or a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. They will also have the opportunity to travel up ranks and train as a Junior Instructor. Like Firefighters, Fire Cadets also play an important role in their community by delivering advice on home fire safety, water safety, road safety and arson prevention, as well as supporting local initiatives and charities. Fire Cadets meet on Monday evenings from 19:00 21:00 during school term time at Kempston Station. 9
Schools Children can be especially at risk in a fire situation. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service runs a county wide education programme for Year 2 students that educates them about fire safety in the home. Crews from Kempston Community Fire Station will support this programme by completing all programmed Year 2 visits during the year. Station Open Day Green Watch Kempston will be responsible for organising the Station Open Day during Quarter Q2. 3rd September. The theme of the open day will be Road Safety, working together with other Emergency and Voluntary Services targeting all identified groups. Period/Dates Theme Key Activities: 9 th September Road Safety/RTC Reduction, working with other Emergency and Voluntary Services Road Safety Advice with interaction from other Emergency and Voluntary Services. Drawing attention to potential distractions and hazards when driving Target Audience Young Families The Service will look to reach all drivers working collaboratively with the Police and other Emergency and Voluntary Services to ensure a consistent road safety message 10
Recruitment Kempston Community Fire Station actively undertakes and promotes Retained Duty Recruitment through campaigns throughout the year. Potential candidates are directed to the current online application process through the Service website. Kempston Retained Duty Personnel will be undertaking a Positive Action Day in Quarter 3 of targeting female and ethnic minority recruitment. Campaign Date Target Audience Watch Allocated to: Positive Action Recruitment Day Q3 Female and Ethnic Minority groups. This event will include an online Facebook/poster advertising the campaign Kempston RDS 11
Kempston Community Fire Station Southfields Road, Kempston, Bedfordshire, MK42 7NR Visit our website for fire and home safety advice: www.bedsfire.com Follow us on Twitter: @bedsfire Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Southfields Road, Kempston, Bedford, MK42 7NR Telephone: 01234 845000 Email: bedfadmin@bedsfire.com 12