Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is seeking Rutlanders' views following the launch of its Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) for 2020-2024.

An IRMP must assess all foreseeable fire and rescue-related risks to communities and put in place arrangements to respond to, and deal with, them.

It must cover at least a three-year period, be regularly reviewed, developed through consultation and be accessible and cost-effective.

Rick Taylor, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, said: "Our IRMP process fulfils our purpose of safer people, safer places and takes account of the risks faced by our communities, including the consequences of fires, road traffic collisions, flooding and collapsed buildings, amongst others.

"It's focused on how best our resources can be used to manage and or reduce and limit the risks."

The service has gathered and analysed five years of historical demand data, risk data, station location information, response times and budget constraints, and the seven proposals are now subject to public consultation, which runs for 12 weeks until Monday, 25 November 2019.

The proposals included are:

• Use fire engines flexibly, aiming to attend life-threatening incidents in an average of 10 minutes
• Use firefighters efficiently and flexibly to maximise appliance availability
• Purchase a second high reach appliance to replace the older one of the two vehicles
• Continue to undertake education and enforcement activities, targeting those most at risk
• Continue to collaborate with other blue light services and partner agencies to support safer people, safer places
• Enable staff to do 'the right thing' to help communities
• Implement alternative crewing arrangements in the event of the service moving away from the current Day Crewing Plus duty system

Rick Taylor, added: "We are actively encouraging our communities in Rutland, Leicester and Leicestershire to take part in this consultation exercise.

"Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is your fire and rescue service, so this is now your opportunity to have your say.

"Please tell us what you think of our proposals."

To participate in the IRMP consultation complete the online questionnaire which can be found by clicking the red button below.

Alternatively, if your require a paper questionnaire or assistance in completing or providing feedback, contact Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service on 0116 210 5550 or email [email protected]

A consultation summary report will be presented to the Combined Fire Authority in February 2020, where it will agree which proposals should be progressed.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Rutland, Leicester and Leicestershire.

During 2018/19, the service attended 762 road traffic collisions, of which 125 were extrications from vehicles, in addition to ­2,569 fires. A total of 6,746 home safety checks were carried out and 4,790 smoke alarms fitted. As part of the service's schools programme, 279 schools were visited, delivering fire and road safety education to pupils. Staff organised or took part in 1,068 community safety events, promoting fire and road safety and arson prevention, and 134 Virtual Fatal Four (VF4) events as part of the young drivers' road safety project.