Hampshire fire service named among best in UK
HAMPSHIRE'S fire service is among the best in the country, according to a new report.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service has published its end of year performance report, which breaks down the service's operations from April 2021 to March 2022.
Across the country's 22 fire authorities, Hampshire and Isle of Wight ranked third best for fire containment - specifically to the room a fire breaks out in.
Firefighters have also been proactive in making visits to vulnerableresidents,ensuring their homes are safe, and the service'saverageresponsetime is still faster than the national average - below eight minutes for critial incidents.
All this at a time when fire stationshelpedtodelivermore than 150,000 Covid-19 vaccines, and as firefighters doubled-up as ambulance drivers and first responders.
Deputy chief fire officer
Shantha Dickinson said firefighters should be 'proud' of the lengths they go to in keeping Hampshire safe.
Shesaid:'Weareincredibly proud of what the Service has achieved over this last year – even with increased staff sickness–improvingperformance orreturningtopre-Covidlevels many areas.
'Therewasalsoasignificant increase of 29 per cent in the number of safe and well visits we delivered.'
Liberal Democrat spokesman for health and social care, Councillor David Harrison, said:'Thereisalotofreallypositive things in this report. The number of safe and well visits is just one example.
'It seems to be creating a reallypositivecycle,asincreased prevention work reduces the number of call-outs, which is good for the service's value for money.'
Liberal Democrat member for Fareham and Portchester, Cllr Roger Price, added: 'Our firefighters have been exemplary throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
'A few years ago, who would have thought that they would be helping out in hospitals and so so much to help with vaccinations?
'We owe them a lot of thanks.'
However, the report did also highlight some areas that requireimprovementfromthe fire service.
Eight fire fatalities were recordedbetweenApril2021and March2022,upfromseventhe previous year.
These fatalities include deathsatroadtrafficcollisions (RTCs) and suicides.