Agenda item

(i) Update on Service and Operation Matters

(ii) Performance Report. (Copy attached.)

(iii) Local Plan Performance Report. (Copy attached.)

(iv) Prevention & Protection Activities, Quarter 3. (Copy attached.)

(v) Unwanted Fire Alarm Signals.

Area Commander Hilary Sangster, Local Senior Officer (LSO)

4.1       There had been circulated copies of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service performance report 1 April 2022 to 31 December 2022. Area Commander Hilary Sangster was in attendance at the meeting and provided an update on national matters.  A national pay deal had been reached which would avoid potential strike action.  The Scottish Borders was served by thirteen on call stations and two whole time stations.  The on call firefighters which served in the region did an exemplary job of balancing primary employment, family life and their on call firefighter duties.  Recruitment of on call volunteers continued across the region, and was serving the purpose of increasing appliance availability and allowing staff to work where they were most needed.  The use of the Bank Hours initiative had allowed SFRS to access appliances for over 3800 hours.

4.2       Group Commander Keith Langley presented the performance report and explained that Scottish Fire and Rescue Service had responded to 1391 incidents in the Scottish Borders, an increase of 132 incidents compared to the same period of the previous year.  That included 55 accidental dwelling fires, 198 accidental fires, 301 special service incidents and 59 road traffic collisions.  False alarms accounted for 56% of the emergency calls.  The change to the unwanted fire alarm response, planned for 2023, was expected to derive down the number of false alarms that crews attended.  That would allow more training and community safety initiatives to be undertaken.  SFRS measured how well its priorities were met using 7 key indicators: all accidental dwelling fires, all accidental dwelling fire casualties, all deliberate fires, non domestic fires, special service – road traffic collision casualties, special service- non RTC casualties and false alarms. The report indicated that all deliberate fires and non-domestic fires were rated as red on the Red, Amber, Green rating scale.  All other performance indicators were green.   Operational staff continued to undertake routine and risk specific skill acquisition and maintenance training.   Group Commander Langley highlighted that as part of the Local Plan it was important for staff to focus on individual specialisms once a month.  The training team had undertaken excellent work and the aforementioned focus had been working well. 

4.3       SFRS had set a national target of a 10% reduction in accidental dwelling fires over a three year rolling period.  There had been 54 dwelling fires recovered compared to 58 over the same period in the previous year.  The decrease was a positive sign that efforts to reduce dwelling fires was having an impact.  There were 3 deliberate dwelling fires reported.   Cooking appliances accounted for 21 dwelling fires, with 3 due to negligent use of equipment and 2 due to faulty fuel supplies.  Analysis highlighted that 22 of the incidents involved adults 18 to 64 years old, and 21 were 65+.  Following all domestic fires, the Post Domestic Incident Response would be carried out, and work was ongoing with partners to identify persons at risk.  The report highlighted that fire SFRS aimed to reduce fire casualties in the Scottish Borders year on year by 5% over a three year rolling period.  There had been 10 casualties in the reporting period, a reduction from 11 in the previous year’s equivalent period.  There had been one fatality at an incident, which was subject to confirmation that it was a fire death.  Of the 4 incidents, 4 members of the public attended hospital with slight injuries, 6 received treatment on scene and SFRS provided oxygen on 7 occasions to inured persons.  SFRS continued to carry out seasonal action plans to educate the public regarding dangers, risk and safety measures. Where trends were identified work would take place with partners to mitigate risks. There had been 108 incidents of all deliberate fires in the reporting period.  A large increase from the previous year, but below the high of 122 in 2019/2020.  There had been 3 deliberate dwelling fires compared to 3 for the same reporting period of the previous year.  2 were by the property owner.   Secondary fires involving refuse, grass or derelict buildings accounted for 64 of the recorded fires.   Car fires accounted for 5 of the fires, and 3 were dwelling fires. There had been 37 incidents of non-domestic fires in the reporting period, a small increase from the previous year and slightly above average compared to previous years.  Non domestic fires typically involved agricultural, industrial or educational buildings.  25 of the 37 incidents were accidental, with 12 caused by adults.  Nine incidents were caused by equipment overheating, four were due to faulty fuel supplies, two were negligent use of equipment and seven was deliberate. SFRS had attended 59 RTC’s in the reporting period.  Operational action was undertaken on 20 occasional to rescue casualties.  25 people were injured, and seven lost their lives.  Whilst Police Scotland were responsible for determining the cause of RTC’s, SFRS had a significant role to play in preventing RTC’s.  There had been 62 special service non RTC casualties during the reporting period.  15 injuries appeared to be serious and required hospital treatment.   SFRS had attended 69 effecting entry incidents in the Scottish Borders in the reporting period.

3.1         There had been 784 fire calls that were classed as unwanted fire alarm signals (UFAS) during the reporting period.  On average SFRS sent 9 firefighters and 2 fire appliances to every UFAS call out.  64,000 productive hours were lost every year to UFAS, an equivalent cost of £3.5million.  186 calls were due to false alarms with good intent, 61 were malicious calls, and 17 were caused by human behaviour.  104 calls were due to faulty equipment, 103 due to cooking and 59 were accidental.  38 calls were due to staff testing their equipment, and could have been prevented by appropriate procedures and following correct practice. 

3.2         The Chair thanked SFRS for their full and detailed report. In response to a question regarding high numbers of UFAs and malicious calls, Station Commander Wes Robertson explained that calls were challenged by operations control when they were received, and that training was provided to ensure that staff challenged whether calls were genuine where appropriate.  Work was ongoing to ensure that those likely to make malicious calls were targeted, with outreach events being delivered at schools and other such facilities.  In response to a question regarding grass fires and wildfires, Group Commander Langley explained that whilst the numbers of incidents had increased overall land management by land owners and farmers was good.  Risk assessments were undertaken and education for the general public was ongoing.  SFRS hoped to emulate the partnership work which had been undertaken in Northumberland, where a successful user group had been set up which shared information amongst key stakeholders.  Members highlighted that Community Councils had the potential to act as a key resource for the dissemination of information and education opportunities.  The positive work of SFRS staff undertaking free fire checks in the community was highlighted, in particular follow up call-backs.    

DECISION

AGREED to note the Report.