| Automatic fire alarm procedure updated | From today (3 December), we will be updating our Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) procedure to align working practices with other Services in the region, ensuring firefighters are free to attend genuine emergencies. | https://www.notts-fire.gov.uk/nfrs-news/Pages/Automatic-fire-alarm-procedure-updated.aspx | Automatic fire alarm procedure updated | <p>From today (3 December), we will be updating our Automatic Fire Alarm (AFA) procedure to align working practices with other Services in the region, ensuring firefighters are free to attend genuine emergencies. </p><p>Automatic fire alarms, when triggered, are programmed to contact an offsite call centre who then call the Service. Fire crews attend the call without verification of a fire. Annually, this means our crews are mobilised to thousands of false alarms, across Nottinghamshire, every year. </p><p>To reduce the impact of AFA activations on the Service, Alarm Receiving Centres (ARC) or Fire Alarm Monitoring Organisations (FAMO) will be call challenged 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. </p><p>They will be asked to gather additional information from the occupier and the outcome will determine attendance.</p><p>The updated approach will reduce the amount of false alarms fire crews attend. During 2017/2018, the service responded to 4,369 false alarms of which 3,272 were caused by automatic fire alarms. Each false alarm diverts valuable resources from other, potentially genuine calls. </p><p>This updated procedure will not affect the following premises who may have automatic fire alarms: </p><p>• Domestic premises including Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO);<br>• Residential flats;<br>• Sheltered housing;<br>• Residential care and nursing homes;<br>• Local Primary Care Trust Hospitals and Private Hospitals which have sleeping on site;<br>• Hotels during night-time hours only (21:00hrs - 08:00hrs), During the day, hotels will be call challenged;<br>• Other sleeping risks;<br>• Sites that present a greater risk of injury to firefighters due to the hazards on site and where we have gathered detailed risk information;<br>• Heritage sites listed as Grade I or Grade II by Historic England;<br>• High rise premises with sleeping risk;<br>• Premises not conforming to the above criteria but locally determined to be unsuitable for call challenging.</p><p>Station Manager Andrew Kelly, Head of Fire Protection said: “During 2017, we attended over 3,000 calls to Automatic Fire Alarms (AFA) which turned out to be false alarms. Each false alarm means firefighters are potentially diverted away from other genuine calls.</p><p>“The Service is committed to attending fires as quickly and as effectively as resources permit, and our response to a confirmed emergency call, where the caller is certain that our assistance is required, will not change. </p><p>“We are keen to support businesses and organisations through this transitional period and beyond. </p><p>“If you wish to discuss these changes in further detail or have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the fire protection team either by email fireprotection@notts-fire.gov.uk, by calling 0115 8388205 or by going to our<a href="/BusinessSafety/Pages/AFA-Procedure.aspx"> Business Safety pages</a>."<br></p> | | |
| Prince's Trust sow seeds of learning at Foxwood Academy | A Prince’s Trust team from Stockhill have completed work on a community project at Foxwood Academy in Bramcote, revitalising a section of the school grounds. | https://www.notts-fire.gov.uk/nfrs-news/Pages/Prince's-Trust-sow-seeds-of-learning-at-Foxwood-Academy.aspx | Prince's Trust sow seeds of learning at Foxwood Academy | <p>A Prince’s Trust team from Stockhill have completed work on a community project at Foxwood Academy in Bramcote, revitalising a section of the school grounds.</p><p>Tracey Avery, Team Support Officer with the Prince’s Trust said: “The land was previously not safe for the children to enter due to the nettles and stagnant pond water. We have removed and filled in the pond, planted a large number of plants and put down bark chippings to make it more accessible and a better space to spend time in.</p><p>“The school want to encourage pupils to get involved in the garden and utilise the area as an outdoor learning space. That is why the team have added a fidget board, outdoor music instruments and a sensory path. We hope the children will enjoy them!”</p><p>James Hutchinson, Head teacher at Foxwood Academy said: "We are extremely grateful to the efforts provided by the Princes Trust which has enabled our students to enjoy the sensory garden once again.</p><p>“We can now offer a classroom outside and a fantastic sensory environment. The volunteers worked so hard and it really has been a team effort with a long-lasting impact. Thank you!" </p><p><img src="/nfrs-news/PublishingImages/2018/AS20181127-Princes%20Trust-14.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:989px;" /><br></p><p style="text-align:center;"><em>Part of the garden which has been revitalised by the Prince's Trust team.</em><br></p><p>The project follows another two-week community project completed last month at London Road creating a community fruit and vegetable garden</p><p>The two-week project, completed on October 26, saw the team from Highfields smartening up the current vegetable garden, tidying and replanting grassed areas building and decorating the raised flower beds. Five new fruit trees were also planted.</p><p>Andy Lindley, Station Manager at London Road said: “It’s been great pleasure having the Princes Trust at London Rd, who have worked very hard on their Community Project. </p><p>“The team have really brightened up the exterior of the Station along with creating a community fruit and vegetable garden where it is hoped that the crops that we grow will be distributed to local Soup kitchens and Pulp Friction.</p><p></p><p>The projects have been undertaken as part of the TEAM programme, a 12-week personal development course for unemployed young people aged between 16 and 25. </p><p>Participants will be able to work on improving their confidence and enhancing employability skills. They will work towards a nationally recognised qualification in Employment, Teamwork and Community Skills.</p><p>The programme consists of a two-week community project and a two-week work placement. Participation is free, it does not affect entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance and it's ideal for those looking to develop confidence or qualifications.</p><p>To find out more about the programme <a href="/YourSafety/Pages/Princes-Trust.aspx" style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>click here</strong></a>.<br></p> | | |
| Nottingham man sentenced for six months for multiple fire safety offences | A Nottingham man has been sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay nearly £20,000 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty to five fire safety offences. | https://www.notts-fire.gov.uk/nfrs-news/Pages/Nottingham-man-sentenced-for-six-months-fire-safety-offences.aspx | Nottingham man sentenced for six months for multiple fire safety offences | <p>A Nottingham man has today (Monday 26 November) been sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay nearly £20,000 in prosecution costs after pleading guilty to five fire safety offences. </p><p>Mr Mahmood Hussain who appeared at Nottingham Crown Court today, was sentenced for breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which included failure to comply with an Enforcement Notice at his premises known as A1 Hotel, Hamilton Road, Sherwood.</p><p>Other offences included a failure to undertake a suitable and sufficient fire risk assessment, failure to provide and maintain adequate escape routes from the hotel, failure to make appropriate fire safety arrangements and the failure to routinely maintain the fire alarm and emergency lighting systems.</p><p>Passing sentence, His Honour Judge MacAdam said that Mr Hussain has shown a wilful disregard for fire safety laws and continued to profit whilst placing hotel residents at risk.</p><p>The Judge went on to say that an immediate custodial sentence was necessary as “The message must go out – fire kills,” and because Mr Hussain had been given, “so many warnings on so many occasions.”</p><p>Group Manager Andy Kelly, Head of Fire Protection for Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We welcome and support the comments of Judge MacAdam.</p><p>“Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service does and will always seek to work with and support business owners to make sure that they keep their premises, guests and employees safe.</p><p>“However, staff, members of the public and visitors using premises within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire should feel reassured that they can do so safely.</p><p>“We hope that sentences such as these confirm to the public that we do take fire safety matters very seriously, and that we are committed to creating safer communities for us all to enjoy.”</p> | | |
