A record 63,225 home fire safety checks were carried out in West Yorkshire in the 12 months to 31 March

The county’s fire and rescue service has now completed 333,000 free visits over the past five years. “There’s no doubt that our ambitious programme of home visits, smoke alarm installation and fire prevention campaigns have had a radical impact on our communities. West Yorkshire is safer now than it’s ever been,” said Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling.

“We used to see 3040 fire deaths every year. In 2009/10 there were 11 accidental fire fatalities – that’s 11 too many but nevertheless a huge difference.” Mr. Pilling added that by 2013 he was determined that his staff would have visited 450,000 homes – over half the county total. “Every time we fight a fire it’s a sign of failure because the vast majority of fires are preventable if people are offered timely advice and practical help.”

Mr. Pilling said that partnership working and information sharing was now the key to further success because that was the best way to identify and target those at greatest risk and in greatest need.

Councillor David Ridgway said that although traditional fire and rescue operations still accounted for the vast bulk of the organisation’s annual budget, the growing investment in fire safety and community relations work would reach almost £12m. this year.

“Our brigade was one of the pioneers of community fire safety but we’ve yet to reach many people who could most benefit, including the elderly and housebound,” explained the Chair of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority.”

Statistics just released confirm that West Yorkshire has one of the most effective and efficient fire authorities in the country. In the last financial year, efforts to crack down on unnecessary fires helped drive down the total number of incidents from 36,667 in 2008/9 to 34,324. Calls to fires involving people or property dipped to 4,384 (12.8 per cent). Malicious calls which potentially distract firefighters from genuine and life threatening emergencies reduced from 1,165 to just 713.

Sadly, there were 80 attacks reported against staff on duty, but yet again this represented a 37 per cent reduction on 2008/9. Annual spending, per head of population and for an authority ranked as the top performer in the region by the Audit Commission, was £39.52 compared with £43.49 in South Yorkshire and as much as £54.70 in London.

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