South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue
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Fire service begins consultation on draft plans

South Yorkshire’s fire service wants people to feedback on its objectives for the next three years, after draft plans were considered by councillors today.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue says it wants to remove inefficiency, boost performance and embed an inclusive workplace culture as it strives to become one of the country’s leading fire and rescue services.

A change to how it responds to 999 calls would see a vehicle which is used to respond to small incidents like grass and bin fires move from Cudworth to Dearne fire station. The fire service says this would be a better location for the vehicle based on incident data- analysed as part of a full review of all its fire stations and fire engines.

The proposals are set out in the service’s draft Community Risk Management Plan 2025-2028.  Every fire service publishes plans like these to tell local people the steps they will take to make them safer and address risks in their local area.

You can view South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s draft Community Risk Management Plan 2025 to 2028 here.

You can feedback on the plans using the survey here.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Simon Dunker, said: “Responding to emergencies efficiently and effectively remains our number one priority as a fire and rescue service. But we also deliver other important work to make local people safer and our Community Risk Management Plan is a way we demonstrate how we combine all our resources to address risks in South Yorkshire. Now we want local people to feedback on those plans- as well as our other objectives for the next four years.”

The draft plans were considered by the service’s governing Fire & Rescue Authority on Monday 25 November, who approved the service begin consulting with its staff and the public on the proposals. The Fire Authority is made up of 12 members from across South Yorkshire’s four councils.

The consultation will close on 7 February 2025.

Fire service objectives laid out in draft plans to be considered by councillors

South Yorkshire’s fire service has set out its objectives for the next three years, in draft plans to be considered by local councillors.

South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue says it wants to remove inefficiency, boost performance and embed an inclusive workplace culture as it strives to become one of the country’s leading fire and rescue services.

The only change to how it responds to 999 calls would see a vehicle which is used to respond to small incidents like grass and bin fires move from Cudworth to Dearne fire station. The fire service says this would be a better location for the vehicle based on incident data- analysed as part of a full review of all its fire stations and fire engines.

The proposals are set out in the service’s draft Community Risk Management Plan 2025-2028.  Every fire service publishes plans like these to tell local people the steps they will take to make them safer and address risks in their local area.

The draft plans will be considered by the service’s governing Fire & Rescue Authority on Monday 25 November. The Fire Authority is made up of 12 members from across South Yorkshire’s four councils.

If approved for consultation, the service will then consult with the public and its own staff on the proposals.

For more information visit the Fire Authority website here

Have a go at being an on-call firefighter

Are you interested in becoming an on-call firefighter but are not sure what’s involved?

What is an on-call firefighter?

An on-call firefighter is someone employed by a fire and rescue service who is ‘on-call’ to respond to a range of emergencies and to engage with their community. They respond from home, or another place of work, where they have everyday lives and jobs – until their pager sounds and they become professional firefighters.

Put into more general terms, an on-call firefighter could be classed as a part-time firefighter. Part-time or not, though, they are fully trained and experienced people on the front line, saving lives and protecting people. They are exceptional individuals and there is nothing ‘part-time’ about their commitment.

Our on-call staff come from all areas of the community. For example, they could be stay at home parents, in full or part-time employment, working for themselves, studying at college or university or not currently employed. They are paid for their services, receive thorough training and are taught all they need to know about emergency situations.

We’re going to be opening on-call recruitment again soon and we’re hosting “Have A Go” sessions at stations around the county on the following dates:

  • Rossington Fire Station: Saturday 23 November, 10am – 4pm
  • Penistone Fire Station: Wednesday 4 December, 5.30pm – 8.30pm
  • Stocksbridge Fire Station, Wednesday 18 December, 5.30pm – 8pm

Contact our on-call support team to find out more and book your place

More house fires happen at Christmas then any other time of year, fire service warns

Firefighters are urging their public to take care over the festive period as new figures show that more house fires happen during the Christmas period than at any other time of year.

The average amount of domestic fires attended by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue during the Christmas period (24th December until 31 December) is higher than the average amount of incidents in the same period in every other month of the year.

In response, a new campaign has been launched with a video which lightly parodies the advert of a well-known cola brand and also features a specially recorded song by a group of singers from Vivacity Choir, a community choir based in Hillsborough, Sheffield.

Chris Tyler, Group Manager in the service’s community safety team said: “We want Christmas to be the most wonderful time of the year for everyone in South Yorkshire.

“That’s why we’re urging people to check their homes ahead of the holidays. At a time when we enjoy spending time with friends and family, you don’t want fire to be an uninvited guest.

“As part of your festive preparations, make sure you’ve got smoke alarms in your home and test them.

“Ensure you keep Christmas trees away from heat sources. If they’re real, keep them well watered and if they’re artificial check that that they are made with fire retardant materials.

“Be careful not to overload sockets with Christmas lights and always turn them off when they’re not in use.

“Many house fires start in the kitchen so make sure that you’re keeping an eye on your turkey at all times.

“Why not do an online home safety check for your own home or for a loved one today.”

More Christmas Safety advice from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue