Merseyside Fire Service

The background

Merseyside Fire Service serves 1.4 million people across five metropolitan districts - Liverpool, Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral. The service has approximately 1700 employees, based at 26 community fire stations and a number of administrative centres. The total annual budget to provide fire cover exceeds £74 million. The Fire Authority, which consists of elected representatives from the five districts, works alongside Merseyside Fire Service, to ensure the public receives an efficient service at the best possible value.

Our aim

The primary aim of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is to make Merseyside Safer. To do this, the service is engaged in a long-term fire-safety programme which aims to save lives and property through fire prevention and education whilst providing an excellent emergency response.

The programme, spearheaded by Chief Fire Officer Tony McGuirk, is the most ambitious ever attempted by a UK fire service. It positions firefighters at the heart of the community, develops partnerships between residents and the fire service and utilises advances in communications technology to reach the public.

As part of the fire safety drive, the service aims to perform free fire risk assessments in 200,000 homes across Merseyside, including the installation of free smoke alarms where needed. These risk assessments have already resulted in a reduction in domestic fires, with untold savings in life, property damage, NHS care costs, emergency re-housing costs and related agency commitments.

Forging Partnerships

Partnerships are vital to help achieve fire safe communities. Associated organisations now working with Merseyside Fire Service include Local Authorities, Housing Associations, SRB, New Deal in the Communities, and professional bodies such as CFOA (Chief Fire Officers Association).

A Partnership Development Officer has been appointed to help build partnerships with relevant organisations, as well as engaging the community in valuable fire safety projects and attracting EU funding.

Working with the EU

EU funding is essential to assist fire safety, by tackling the social causes of fire, such as poverty and sub-standard housing, and by funding training.

The Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is part of a ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ Community programme aiming to improve the fire safety in hotels across Europe by classifying safety standards and improving training. Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service is also active in promoting sprinklers in all environments and is an active member of the European Fire Sprinkler Network.

Related links

The Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service website: www.merseyfire.gov.uk