Reducing the risk on Warwickshire Waterways
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service in partnership with Boat Safety Scheme is launching its nationally acclaimed Boat Fire Safety Check Scheme.
The launch will take place on Friday 8 September at Hatton’s British Waterways Skills and Heritage Centre, Hatton Locks, Warwick.
The scheme, which was founded by the Head of Community Fire Safety and Youth Development, Nigel Grant came about as a result of growing concerns relating to the increased risk on Warwickshire’s waterways, particularly fire related incidents. After considerable research, and lots of negotiations with other like-minded agencies, the Boat Fire Safety Check Scheme was established in collaboration with the BSS.
Nigel said:
“The scheme has taken almost 15 months to establish which entailed a lot of hard work and dedication. I would like to thank the BSS and members of the WFRS community safety team for their support in making the project work. We have received lots of support from local and national companies who have donated equipment and helped us with our research including Kidde Safety Europe TLC, Honeywell S.F Detection, Willow Wren Cruisers, Rugby and Ashby Boat Company, Stoke Golding.
“This is a major project and the first of it’s kind in the UK. Thanks to the support from the Department for Communities and Local Government, we will now be working with other fire and rescue services to help them to become part of this national initiative.”
There are around 2,500 registered boats on the county’s waterways and, they can be vulnerable to fire on account of the fuels stored on board, the possible presence of flammable vapours and the increased possibility of arson when boats are left untended in remote locations.
Warwickshire County Council’s Chief Executive, Jim Graham will be attending the launch along with County Fire Officer, William Brown and local councillors. During the launch firefighters will be carrying out boat fire safety checks and providing key information on the safe handling of fuel and portable generators, fire extinguishers, fire blankets, flammable liquids and escape routes.
For further information on the scheme log onto http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue
Entities for this story
- rescue services
- Hatton Locks
- Nigel Grant
- William Brown
- Willow Wren Cruisers
- Jim Graham
- Ashby Boat Company
- Honeywell
- BSS
- Rugby
- Warwickshire County Council
- Communities and Local Government
- British Waterways Skills and Heritage Centre
- Department for Communities
- United Kingdom
- Governor
- head
- Chief Executive
- County Fire Officer
- Fire Officer
- www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue