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Utilising ‘ultimate cross-cutting problem’ of our time |
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At a recent parliamentary seminar, delegates were reminded of the importance of the impact of climate change as being the “ultimate crosscutting problem of our time”. FIRE contends that this deliberation must be taken further to draw the multiple local, regional, national and international fire strands together
It was fitting that last month’s parliamentary seminar was the best attended in the 11-year history of the All-Party Parliamentary Fire Safety and Rescue Group. The subject matter concerned reducing the environmental impact of fire with particular emphasis on the effectiveness of sprinklers. This was a fitting tribute as it was Bernadette Hartley, who passed away on February 14 (see Obituary, pg 12), who first used the environment as a leverage for convincing politicians of the efficiency of water suppression systems.
Little England
In 1998, with CFO Peter Holland, Tess Kingham MP and the FBU’s Glyn Evans, Bernadette was instrumental in forming the National Fire Sprinkler Network, which saw great success within a few short years as it helped bring about the introduction of sprinklers to retail premises above 2,000 sq m. Bernadette subsequently went on to form the European Fire Sprinkler Network and continued to bang the drum in Brussels. There has been real progress in the implementation of sprinklers, although wider afield than the introspective hotbed of Westminster, where politicians are still largely aloof to the issue. Th eWelsh Assembly’s Ann Jones was present to explain the decision to install sprinklers in all new builds and all schools inWales. Recent developments have seen the Scottish Parliament making similar moves. As with the vast majority of attendees who were converted to the ideal integrated solution offered by water suppression systems, it appears that almost everywhere apart from England is won over by sprinklers. Germany, for example, has a 1,600 sq m compartment size requirement for sprinkler installation. BobWhitely fromTyco said that we are sadly lagging behind the rest of Europe and suggested that the UK should not “choose to lose one per cent of GDP through fire every year.” So apart from the select few attendees and pockets of supporters around the country, who cares? CFOA President Steve McGuirk suggested that too few do, certainly not in sufficient numbers. However, it was CFO McGuirk who described the impact of climate change and efforts to reduce our carbon footprint as the “ultimate crosscutting problem” of our time.
Global Perspective
In some respects the Fire and Rescue Service is only beginning the long and arduous journey of making a significant contribution to the government’s targets of reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2050. As is often the case, there are a multitude of effective schemes – from conservation initiatives in local communities to solar powered fire stations – that fire and rescue services are undertaking. Indeed, this is where local service delivery excels and we have no need to refer to any DCLG report to bring to mind dozens of examples of best practice in every aspect of FRS duties at a local level. Where the Service could be said to be struggling slightly, although trying mightily, is in the new world arena of national and international coordination, glimpsed in the bigger picture of climate change and multi-national disasters. We say that not wanting to be critical. It is a rapidly developing scene, changing form as relentlessly as the melting ice caps. Remember also where the Service was 10 years ago, when Bernadette and colleagues initiated the sprinkler network. National co-ordination for nonoperational concerns was mostly off the radar. Now, the sheer scale of the impact of climate change, amongst other dangers, threatens to overwhelm. It is customary here for FIRE to offer solutions. Discarded they may be, but solutions are proffered nonetheless. This month there is no need. The answer is already there. It was ten years ago when Bernadette set out with her incomparable networking skills. It is there in what countless leaders have spoken about: partnership; collaboration; developing sustainable policies and procedures; drawing local, regional and national planning into one practicable approach; ‘cross-cutting’ the entire political machinations of local, national and international government. Simple as that.
If the impact of climate change truly is the “ultimate cross-cutting problem” of our time, and it surely is, then this must be the catch-all to encompass all fire themes. A national Fire and the Environment Network? Why not? |
