29th - 30th June Fire & Rescue Show Harrogate

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BLFRS Fire Safety will be having a stand at this prestigious event to showcase one of the many successes of the organisation.

Group Commander Tim Birchall will be talking about a dynamic approach to fire risk reduction in schools which has resulted in a 75% cut in incidents since 2003:

“Maintaining Schools for the Future - a fire safety approach”

In July 2008 a project group was set up by BLFRS, Beds Police and three local authorities to encourage BB100 toolkit in existing schools,

BLFRS would produce a risk rating for schools, run free seminars for head teachers and governors, use results for a risk based audit programme under FSO and target highest risk schools via the School Crime and Arson Risk Evaluation (SCARE) project.

More than 250 schools were categorised as low, medium and high risk - and recommendations regarding sprinklers and other measures were made.

Long standing initiatives such as site agent training, fire risk assessment, fire safety consultation, meetings with LEA and H & S, education via Arson About and a special play with Biddenham Upper School were continued.

The result is a 75% reduction in school fires compared to 2003 - deliberate, accidental and small fires

To demonstrate the success of the project the team will be showing a video film by www.local-news.tv which includes interviews with partners and schools about how the activity has benefited them.