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Young firefighters muster in London - Gateway on-service for fire safety |
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The government has launched a new fire safety information system, enabling users to carry out fire safety assessments on the home. The new online service makes it easier for anyone to contact their local fire and rescue service and submit online requests for assistance to help prevent fires from happening. For the first time, users across the country can now submit online requests for an array of non-emergency services provided by their local fire and rescue services. The Fire Gateway (www.fire.gov.uk) is a national web portal which has been developed for the fire and rescue services in England. The Fire Gateway allows users to:
• Self-assess their home fire safety
• Make an online request for a free home fire safety visits from the local fire and rescue service
• Submit online requests for the Fire and Rescue Service to attend events at schools and other community events
• Request fire safety advice for families and individuals where there are concerns about people starting deliberate fires.
The Fire Gateway also has tools to help make workplaces safer:
• Businesses can complete an online self-assessment to check their progress in complying with new Fire Safety regulations for the workplace
• A wide range of fire-related content is available, providing information and advice about the Fire and Rescue Service and links to other relevant websites.
Fire and Rescue Service Minister Angela Smith said the Fire Gateway is a great example of the government working in partnership with the Fire and Rescue Authorities to help improve public safety. Angela Smith said: “The Fire and Rescue Service has always been recognised for its excellence and professionalism when dealing with emergencies but it is now increasingly focussing on fire prevention work, to great effect. The Fire Gateway has been developed to provide advice and support to the public to reduce the risk of fires occurring in the first place. “Last week in New York eight children and one adult died in a house fire, and we are trying to prevent a repeat of such a terrible incident here by offering the self assessment and advice.” Fire and rescue services throughout England are confident that the new tool will help them to reduce the risk of fire in the home and in the workplace. The Fire Gateway has opened up a new and vital means of communication between fire services and the people they serve. CFO Barry Dixon, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The Fire Gateway will be a valuable tool for helping fire and rescue services communicate more effectively and be even more accessible to their communities. Whilst the emergency response side of the Service must never be forgotten a huge proportion of the work of modern fire and rescue services is about prevention through education, partnership, advice and support. “The Fire Gateway will help to build on the incredible work already carried out by the Service across England. It will provide a national online facility which will further help to educate, provide vital safety advice, allow the public to submit requests for services for our professional help and support, share information and build partnerships with communities and businesses, all of which will ultimately help to make homes and businesses throughout England even safer.”
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