We should be proud of our firefighters
AS a board member of the Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue Service for almost two years, I am all too aware of the changes to the service that have taken place recently.
There is now much more focus on keeping us safe and preventing fires from starting in the first place. With this mind, the service has been very pro-active in encouraging homeowners and tenants to take up the offer of free Home Safety inspections.
Living in an old listed building and having had a very nasty experience with a fire at a previous home many years ago, it seemed daft not to take advantage of the offer. Hence, this last week, I was visited by firefighter John McCann, who spent over an hour going over key bits of information to ensure that I understood how to keep myself safe, in addition to checking that my appliances and plug sockets etc. were not causing any risk.
After fitting me with a free 10-year smoke alarm to replace my old one, which had not been in the right position, and providing me with a long stick with a pointy finger on the end of it so that I could check it regularly, my flat and the communal entrance hall were pronounced fit for purpose.
I was very impressed by John’s professionalism and the way in which he ensured that I fully understood everything that I needed to do to avoid a fire starting, and should he worst happen, ensure that I would be able to escape safely.
The key message is ‘Get Out, Stay Out, Dial 999’.
I firmly believe that everyone, especially those who are vulnerable, should take advantage of this free and invaluable service. When it comes to our firefighters, we have much to be proud of.
To book a free Home Safety visit call 0800 05 02 999 or email firekills@ dsfire.gov.uk including leading Brexit supporters, are becoming restive over the Government making public health protection regulations using the negative resolution procedure, which means that Statutory Instruments containing restrictions designed to limit the spread of Covid-19 acquire the force of law once they are signed by the relevant Minister.
The concern is that laws affecting such an important issue as the liberty of the citizen are being made without proper Parliamentary scrutiny.
I respectfully agree with those MPs. What a pity, however, that they were not as fastidious about Parliamentary scrutiny when the Prime Minister attempted to prorogue Parliament for 5 of the 8 weeks leading up to October 31, 2019 – the date when the UK was (at that time) due to leave the EU.
Why did they not raise their voices in protest at that attempt to stifle Parliamentary debate on a matter as important as a fundamental change in the British constitution? Instead, it took a private citizen to seek judicial review all the way to the Supreme Court, whose decision they then greeted with outrage. Double standards? Surely not. supposed to be running this great country?