New partnership aims to reduce nuisance fires
Warwickshire County Council’s Fire & Rescue Service has been working with partners in Rugby to try and reduce deliberate small fires.
Partners signed up to the pledge include Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, Warwickshire Police, Rugby Borough Council and Rugby Business Improvement District.
Watch Manager, Russell Ward from Rugby Fire Station said: “Deliberate Small Fires have always been an issue for the Fire Service; this can sometimes be classed as anti social fire setting.
"Over the past months we have invited our partners to join the fight against these types of fires. Through some basic hazard spotting presentations we have trained our partners to spot issues as they arise, these issues are then passed to the Area Risk Team at Rugby Fire Station and we process them, through the local channels.”
Area Risk Manager, Ian Tonner said: “This simple partnership has enabled the Police Community Support Officer’s, Wardens and Town Rangers to be our eyes and ears as they are on the ground and can spot problems early with a quick call or email to us we can process and remove the hazard.”
The benefit of the new partnership is that we are now able to work with our partners to increase patrols in areas, which have recently been targeted by arson. The most recent incident we attended was on Thursday 27th January, when we were called to attend a bin fire to the rear of the cycle shop.
The fire is believed to have been started by youths in the area, setting the shops wheelie bin alight. The intensity of the fire then spread to the shop causing complete devastation.
In light of this incident, we are now working with our partners and fire crews to ensure that shop areas are regularly patrolled ensuring that the bins, where possible, are kept in a safe area. The aim of this drive is to reduce the chances of further arson related small fires.
If you have any questions on fire safety issues, please do not hesitate to contact the Rugby Area Risk Team on 01788 572727.