Monday 15th June 2009

A DAY WITH THE CUMBRIA FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE AT HEADQUARTERS
IN COCKERMOUTH

We were collected by Dominic Harrison, Corporate Director Safer & Stronger Communities/Chief Fire Officer and driven to Cockermouth where we were able to visit the Communication Centre where all incidents are monitored and acted upon.

We then met with the Senior Management Team, who described the considerable amount of work that they do with the public in their own homes so that the risk of fires is reduced. This has been very successful - the evidence being the greatly reduced number of incidents in the County over the past year. They also have a very strong educational programme with schools.

We were shown films of the serious road accidents to which the fire service is called where the officers are required to release the injured and the dead.

The day should have ended with an exercise with the Windermere Fire Service where they would have simulated the release from a crashed car. However, the crew within 3 other teams from Staveley and Kendal were attending a fire in Staveley and Dominic took us to the incident which he needed to attend.

I don't think we appreciated until today just what some of these brave officers have to contend with and like our Police Force they are very special types of people.