0800 555 815

'There has been a lot of media coverage over the last few days about the Fire and Rescue Service - most of it negative and about the suggested 'wastefulness' of 'the Service'.

One of the problems with using the 'Service' as a term, though, is that it creates the idea in the minds of the public that such a thing exists.

It's like talking about 'the retail sector' and using isolated examples of one part, to make sweeping statements/assumptions about the rest.  There is a big difference between Lidl, Aldi, Marks and Spencers or John Lewis and I am sure none of the companies would mind me stating the obvious.

Returning to 'the Service' - the reality is that there isn't one Service, rather there are individual Fire and Rescue Services each with their own challenges and issues and each with their own character. That said, though, we do all collaborate and work together to ensure we can deal with emergency incidents that transcend local boundaries. And actually the evidence of how different Services have come together to manage major emergencies suggests we do this pretty well. I believe we have also demonstrated a willingness to change and transform from the top to bottom of each Fire and Rescue Service (though some start at different points from others and some inevitably see things differently). 

In the last few years we have dealt with major incidents such as the floods across the country and the Buncefield fire,  as well as a myriad of other day to day small medium and large incidents.  We have also lost and seen injured a number of colleagues who, like everyone in the Service, have more than ably demonstrated their commitment to their community (in the most tragic of ways).  But we have also dramatically reduced the tragedy and incidence of fire for our communities - fire deaths are at their lowest levels since the 50s and the number of incidents that we attend have been dramatically reduced.  Indeed there is a certain irony I guess in that our success potentially opens us up to major questions about our activity levels.

None of this is to pretend we are perfect by the way, or to imply mistakes are not made or we should in any way be above public scrutiny. Nor does it imply that we won't take our share of the 'pain' facing all the public sector.  But it is to inject a note of caution that our assets and resources are not all there because we need them all the time - indeed we all hope we don't.  They are there because if we do need them - we really need them; and the Service is so often the service of last resort dealing with emergencies and catastrophes we all wish didn't happen.

Yesterday, I walked with over 70 colleagues from every part of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in the 'Pride' procession.  Indeed, other colleagues from Services across the North West also participated.

The word 'pride' struck me as really appropriate because it was the quality/characteristic most visible on my colleague's faces (not to mention ear to ear grins)  as the thousands of people lining the streets of Manchester burst in to impromptu applause as their Fire and Rescue Service walked past.

As I say - we really are not above either scrutiny or challenge, and of course from time to time we may well make mistakes but you know what - the public isn't fooled and still recognise something of value when they see it - and maybe they take stuff said in the media in a much more balanced way than we might credit and dare I say sometimes with a pinch of salt?

Last update: 13/06/2011 09:13:33