Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service has appointed a new senior fire officer in North Tyneside. Peter Iveson, 46, has been appointed District Manager for North Tyneside − the most senior post in the fire and rescue service in the borough.

Peter joined Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service in May 1990 as a firefighter at the old Pilgrim Street Fire Station in Newcastle. He also worked at Gateshead East Community Fire Station before being promoted to leading firefighter at the old Fossway Fire Station in Newcastle, then Temporary sub-officer at Newcastle North Community Fire Station in Gosforth before becoming a permanent sub-officer at Sunderland South Community Fire Station in Rainton Bridge. During his time as sub-officer Peter also spent two years as temporary station officer at Hebburn Fire Station in South Tyneside. In 2005 Peter worked in the Response Support Department in the service's Headquarters. In 2007 Peter was promoted to station manager at Sunderland Central Community Fire Station in Farringdon, Sunderland.

Speaking about his appointment Peter said: "I am absolutely delighted to be appointed to the top post in North Tyneside and I am really looking forward to building on the excellent work of my predecessors. Last year the number of people injured in a fire in the borough reduced by 31%, from 52 to 36 and I am keen to reduce this further.

"By working together with other organisations such as North Tyneside Council, North Tyneside Homes, the NHS and the Police, I believe we can improve the lives of people in the borough. This is increasingly important within the current economic climate. It's important we continue to provide value for money for local residents and strive towards creating safe communities.

"Community safety is a key part of our role now and our work is paying dividends. We are working hard to ensure we target people who are more vulnerable to having a fire and to make them safer. Over the last year the service has carried out a range of activities to help reduce accidental and deliberate fires. This includes talks to school children, a play about fire safety and crime prevention aimed at older people and the 'Crucial Crew' event aimed at school children with a range of safety workshops such as bonfire and web security, which took place at North Tyneside East Community Fire Station in North Shields. 

 

Key priorities for North Tyneside are:

  • Reduce the number of deaths from all fires
  • Reduce the number of injuries from all fires
  • Reduce the number of accidental fires in the home
  • Reduce the number of all deliberate rubbish fires
  • Reduce the number of false alarms from homes and from businesses/organisations
  • Increase the percentage of fires attended in homes where a smoke alarm was fitted.

 

For further details about the fire and rescue service's work in the borough visit: www.twfire.gov.uk/yourarea/north-tyneside.

 

Photo: District Manager for North Tyneside Peter Iveson, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service

 

Posted January 9th, 2012 at 0920 by Andrew. Comment by emailing: andrew.lynch@pavpub.com