Have your say on how Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service manages risk in public consultation

Residents are being asked to share their views on how Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service manages risks as a public consultation has been launched.

This comes as the service prepares a Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) which details how the service intends to use its resources to respond to and reduce the risk identified within its area.

In Suffolk, risks include fires, animal rescues and road traffic collisions as well as less common countywide flooding or major incidents.

There are five key proposals in Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service’s latest CRMP, with the service looking at:

• Implementation of new Speed of Response Standards
• A review of its Emergency Response Fleet
• An in-depth assessment of how the service works with partner agencies
• A review of recruitment and retention of on-call firefighters and specialist support staff
• Development of its preventative Safe and Well visits

Consideration will also be given to emerging risks including climate change, and how the service can support Suffolk County Council’s ambition to be a carbon neutral authority by 2030.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service want to hear from residents, businesses and voluntary groups during the public consultation and any feedback will help inform their four-year plan.

Dan Fearn, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, said: "Protecting our communities remains a priority for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service, and the CRMP is invaluable in helping us to identify future risks within our county and successfully prepare for these.

"The public feedback received when we prepared our previous plan in 2019 greatly helped to influence its content, and I would urge everyone to have their say on our latest proposals.

"Doing so only takes a few minutes but will make a real difference to the future of our fire service."

Councillor Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Public Protection, added: "I am very proud of the incredible reputation that Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service holds for being so effective in all that they do, with this being a testament to the tireless efforts of all staff across the service.

"To allow this fantastic work to continue, we must review what we do and how we do it; enabling the right balance of our Prevention, Protection and Emergency Response activity to ensure Suffolk can continue to be kept safe during whatever challenges arise."

To provide feedback, click here for a link to the online survey or call 01473 260588 to obtain a paper copy.

Public engagement events will also be held at supermarkets across the county to enable people to speak to Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service staff about the CRMP and raise any questions or concerns they may have.

Further details about the events are available here.

The CRMP consultation is now open and will run until Monday 19 December 2022.