Fire consultation meeting - public meeting to discuss plans to cut a fire engine from the station at Ashbourne. CFO Sean FrayneFIRE service bosses are celebrating after receiving near universal backing for a scheme to install sprinklers into homes.
Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service revealed that nine of the ten local authorities in Derbyshire are in support of the campaign, including South Derbyshire District Council, which will see £360,000 being spent on the potentially life-saving measures.
Now, due to the success of the project, a further £200,000 has been set aside by the service and the fire authority for the project in 2013-14.
For each local authority, the funding can be used for retrofitting domestic sprinklers, installing them in new developments identified for vulnerable persons at risk to fire, or for the provision of portable misting systems until a more permanent provision can be provided.
A spokesman for the service told the Mail: “This is a fantastic working partnership that ensures together, we continue to reduce the impact of fire on our communities and reduce the costs associated with death, injuries and refurbishment within the county by installing domestic sprinklers and portable misting systems into homes.
“Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service will continue to work closely with Derbyshire County Council, district authorities and other partners to ensure that the benefits of domestic sprinkler systems are passed on to all those with a responsibility for providing, developing, or building new homes.”
In March 2012, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Authority supported chief fire officer and chief executive Sean Frayne’s proposal to promote safer houses for residents of communities within Derbyshire to provide £200,000 funding towards the retrofitting of sprinklers in domestic dwellings.
This was based on the fact that £20,000 would be offered to each council on the basis that this would be match funded by them up to the same amount.
The move to install sprinklers came after, last year, six children died in a house fire in Allenton, Derby, which shocked the nation.
