Protection: A risk-based intervention programme overseen by the fire safety team enables high-risk premises to be identified through inspection outcomes or the development of national trends. Identified properties can then be further selected for tactical planning considerations. HAZMAT risks are identified as a consequence and relevant information is shared with the rest of the service. We enforce the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which places legal duties on individuals and organisations to ensure fire safety in non- domestic premises. Our enforcement actions include:
Response: We have a statutory duty to protect the environment to meet this requirement every fire engine carries an environmental protection pack to mitigate the risks of any chemical getting into the environment. For large incidents involving HAZMAT we have an Environmental Protection Unit (EPU). The EPU can contain or reduce the effects of chemical spillages. All our crews are trained on how to deal with HAZMAT incidents and information about chemicals is carried on all appliances. Some chemical incidents require the use of foam, and we have bulk foam, joint water and foam appliance, and for smaller incidents limited foam equipment is carried on each fire engine. We also have specialist trained Hazardous Materials Advisors (HMAs) that are deployed to relevant incidents. We work closely with other agencies when jointly attending chemical incidents, including the police, the NHS, and Environment Agency. The National Chemical Emergency Centre (NCEC) is also a contacted for advice on substance identification and handling. We carry out SSRI visits which are pre-planned inspections to gather detailed information about specific premises or sites that may present unique or significant risks in the event of a fire or other emergency. This ensures fire crews can access up-to-date risk information in a timely manner via MDTs.
This keeps firefighters and the public safe. There are seven lower tier Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) sites in the county about which GFRS holds tactical response plans. The fire sector has seen an increase in dwelling fires due to ignition of battery powered devices, such as bikes and scooters. These devices and battery packs can catch fire rapidly, are difficult to extinguish when on fire, produce toxic fumes, and the water run off can be hazardous when it is applied.
The fire sector has seen an increase in dwelling fires due to ignition of battery powered devices, such as bikes and scooters. These devices and battery packs can catch fire rapidly, are difficult to extinguish when on fire, produce toxic fumes, and the water run off can be hazardous when it is applied.
The number of battery energy storage systems (BESS) are continuing to increase across the country: these large containers of batteries are difficult to control when on fire. Smaller scale versions are also being constructed in domestic properties, fire crews turning up to these sites may not be aware of the risks posed by batteries in a property fire. The risk here is rapid fire spread to other properties, vehicles and the time taken to deal with these types of fires. Reallocate resources to provide equipment to move vehicles away from other hazards. Use of new techniques and equipment to deal with battery car fires.
Our response needs to be mobile to enable us to reach incidents that can occur throughout the county due to our transport network (rail, road, air) being used to move hazardous materials. We have observed an increase in the number of chemical suicides, and this will need to drive not just our prevention, training, and response activities, but also shape the support we offer for our firefighters dealing with these incidents.
The Berkeley nuclear site will be redeveloped to incorporate new nuclear technology, the timeline for this development is not currently available, but the sale and planning stages are already underway, and we will maintain close watching brief.