Chiefs link with ITN to launch Beyond Blue Lights

The Chief Fire Officers Association is raising awareness of fire safety and latest advances with ITN Productions’ news-style programme.

Fire and rescue services attended more than 28,000 accidental dwelling fires in the UK last year, which resulted in 163 deaths, according to the most recent figures from the Department for Communities and Local Government – and most of these are preventable.

The Chief Fire Officers Association has launched Beyond Blue Lights, a news and current affairs-style programme produced in partnership with ITN Productions for the entire sector, aiming at raising awareness of fire safety and the changing role of the Fire Service.

Paul Hancock, CFOA’s newly elected President, said: “CFOA’s partnership with ITN Productions has been extremely fruitful, as this fantastic programme shows.

"It does a great job of exploring the wide role of the Fire and Rescue Service, from world class emergency response and national resilience to innovative collaboration and prevention activity. I hope it will serve to show just what a difference the Fire and Rescue Service – and the people that work for it – can make." 

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Introduced by national newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky, the programme combines key industry interviews and news-style reports along with sponsored editorial profiles of some of the leading organisations in the sector. Beyond Blue Lights uncovers the challenging role of the fire and rescue services in the UK society and takes the audience through the latest innovations and technology from breathing apparatus and thermal imaging cameras to protective clothing and control room systems.

It also examines how new preventive partnerships, which sees the fire and rescue services working alongside the NHS and charities including Age UK, can target and help the most vulnerable in our society. The programme was launched at CFOA’s AGM (September 14), which this year focused on the challenges the Fire Service currently faces.

The event also included a video address from the Fire Minister Mark Francois and there was also a focus on how the Fire Service is already adapting to expand the work it currently does.

Simon Shelley, Head of Industry News, ITN Productions, said: “ITN Productions has enjoyed its partnership with the Chief Fire Officers Association as a means of examining the evolving role and relevance of the Fire Service. We wanted to bring to life the incredible innovations that are saving lives, but also focus on the people throughout the Service who are striving to work collaboratively to prevent tragic incidents. By bringing this all to screen we hope to spark new dialogue that could shape that future of the Service.” 

Watch the full programme at: www.cfoa.org.uk/19322