Fire service making progress, say inspectors

A fire service has made significant progress in keeping people safe from fires but staff need to be more familiar with high-risk sites, inspectors have said.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service's performance was graded by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), which rated it good in five areas and adequate in five others.

Insp Kathryn Stone, of HMICFRS, said the service had "worked hard to improve its culture" but there were some areas of the county where it "wasn't always carrying out prevention activities".

Temporary Chief Fire Officer Nathaniel Hooton said: "While we're pleased with the progress that has been made, we know there is more to do."

The good ratings came for understanding fire and risk, public safety through fire regulation, best use of resources and future affordability, allocation of skills and ensuring fairness and diversity.

The service was rated adequate for preventing fire and risk, responding to fires and emergencies, responding to major incidents, promoting values and cultures and leading people effectively.

Inspectors said there had been improvements in the service's culture - including introducing a new workplace charter that sets out values, which staff fully understood.

However, inspectors found there were some places in the county where the service was not always carrying out prevention activities, and said resources should be dedicated to meet fire risks in rural areas.

Stone said she was "pleased" with the performance of the service in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks.

"The service has strengthened their approach to workplace investigations, including through a dedicated professional standards unit," she said.

"However, it needs to improve in some areas to provide a consistently good service.

"While work has been done to improve its prevention activity, there were some areas, specifically those that were rural, that weren't being targeted for home fire safety visits."

Hooton said the report recognised "the hard work and commitment of our firefighters, support staff and volunteers".

"While we're pleased with the progress that has been made, we know there is more to do. We will continue building on these improvements so that we provide the best possible service for the people of Gloucestershire."

Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for public health, communities and fire, councillor Paul Hodgkinson, said: "This is a very positive report for Gloucestershire and for everyone who works in our fire and rescue service."

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