Chief Fire Officer Ian Hayton has praised the Cleveland community and his own workforce following the release of the Brigade's annual performance figures.

Cleveland Fire Brigade's 2011/12 Performance & Efficiency Report show a 5% drop on the previous year to 193 accidental house fires - the lowest per 10,000 population in the country.

The Brigade was also in the top four nationwide for the number of Home Fire Safety Visits carried out during the last year with firefighters visiting 19,000 homes.

Chief Fire Officer Ian Hayton has paid tribute to the great partnership work his Brigade have been able to engage in with the Cleveland community as key to driving down the figures.

"Cleveland Fire Brigade has a very dedicated team of professionals who work tirelessly with other key organisations to protect our local communities and to help them stay safe," he said.

"A major part of our work is to reach out to residents and businesses, advising them of the risks they face and what they can do to prevent fires. Our free Home Fire Safety Visit is a major part of this work and to carry out 19,000 visits during the last year is a significant achievement.

"We must not rest on our laurels however and by working together I am confident that we can bring down these figures even further."

The figure for fires involving casualties, rescues, property or at least five appliances was also reduced - down 4% from 835 to 805 last year.

Outside of the statistical improvements, the Brigade was also recently hailed for being the first Brigade in the country to fund and install low cost domestic sprinkler systems into domestic properties.

To view the full 2011/12 Performance & Efficiency Report visit: www.clevelandfire.gov.uk/about/our-priorities-how-we-are-doing/ 

Posted 14/06/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com