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Delete paragraph 4.3 and replace with —

“Service Standards

4.3

The Assembly Government acknowledges the rigidity of the “1985 Standards of Fire Cover”. They were prescriptive, inflexible and designed to limit the spread of fire from one property to another. They took little account of life safety or fire safety measures within the property.

  • Service Standards have now been developed to replace the “1985 Standards of Fire Cover”. The Service Standards describe a level of service that people can expect to receive.

  • The Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration introduced the first Service Standard on the 21 March 2005 by Wales Fire and Rescue Service WFRS Circular (06) 08. This Service Standard sets out the details of the standards expected in relation to the attendance by Fire and Rescue Authorities to fires in the home.

  • This Service Standard is based upon a comprehensive model that considers population, population density and population type. It is based on risk and has a three strand approach:

1

The Standard is to provide 80% of Welsh homes with an attendance to a fire in the home within 10 minutes.

2

Where the risk area is predicted by FSEC as having a casualty rate greater than 6, faster response of 5 minutes is required.

3

Where FSEC classifies an area as above average risk the Fire and Rescue Authority will need to assess the individual risk and will need to adopt an additional form of risk reduction strategy.

Fire and Rescue Authorities should ensure that a professional and effective response is available to meet the range of education and prevention activities and the emergency incidents to which they respond. This includes:

  • Training staff and ensuring that they maintain professional standards, are familiar with risks and understand the concept of risk reduction and management;

  • Providing effective command and ensuring control systems are in place;

  • Ensuring that incident commanders have appropriate training and experience;

  • Ensuring that the right equipment is available and staff are fully supported with appropriate resources to deal effectively with incidents, within agreed Service Standards, and to ensure the safety of those undertaking the tasks; and

  • Working together as appropriate.”