Triple Success for West Midlands Fire Service at the Fire Industry Awards 2007
Tuesday 22 May 2007
Part of the International Fire Expo and Fire & Rescue Conference and Exhibition 2007
West Midlands Fire Service scooped three prestigious awards at the annual Fire Industry Awards 2007.
The Award ceremony took place at the Metropole Hotel in Birmingham and was part of the International Fire Expo and Fire & Rescue Conference and Exhibition 2007 event, which is took place at the National Exhibition Centre. It was the back drop for, in the words of the event director, a Celebration of Excellence in fire safety engineering, product design, innovation and highly skilled fire and rescue practice. Entries, described as of the highest standard ever, were judged by Fire Industry specialists from across Fire and Rescue Services and the Commercial Fire Industry. The entries all were inspiring, innovative and diverse demonstrating the national work of both Fire and Rescue Services and associated companies.
Special Commendation Award
A special Commendation Award recognised the work of Station Officer Paul Guyver (Road Casualty Reduction Officer) and Stuart Fisher on their initiatives to educate young people about the dangers of anti-social and dangerous driving.
Stuart was left disabled after a hit-and-run incident when he was 17. He now works closely with Paul and West Midlands Fire Service, visiting schools to talk to pupils about his experiences.
For further information on road safety click here
Contribution to Community Fire Safety (Best Individual)
Clive Robinson, Deaf Community Link Officer, won the best individual category for his work with the deaf and hearing-impaired community. This work ensures their inclusion with and development of our services to meet their needs such as signing for the deaf and valuable safety information available in British Sign Language on our website.
To visit our Deaf Community section click here
Contribution to Community Fire Safety (Best Team)
Joanna Thomas and Fiona Rhodes our education advisers won the Best Team category for their newly developed Special Needs programme. This consists of a box of activities, to be used by fire service personnel, aimed at educating people of all ages with special needs, to keep safe from fire and in survival in the event of fire.
To visit our Education pages click here
The West Midlands Arson Task Force (partnership scheme between Fire and Police - Station Officer Ian Rawlings from West Midlands Fire Service and Sergeant Phil Butler of West Midlands Police) were also finalists in this category for initiatives, including Keep Your School in Business and Keep Your Business in Business but just missed out on the Award this time.
To find out more about West Midlands Arson Task Force click here
Chief Fire Officer Frank Sheehan said: These awards are all thoroughly deserved and recognise the quality and diversity of the work being done throughout West Midlands Fire Service. I am incredibly proud of all the work we do in our communities to achieve our aim of making the region safer and to receive three awards, and a fourth nomination, is the icing on the cake.
Congratulations to all of them on receiving their awards and recognition that these prestigious awards are thoroughly deserved for all community safety work undertaken by West Midlands Fire Service. The West Midlands Fire Service continues to lead the way in community safety and the contributions by all staff making a real difference to peoples lives every day, supporting and delivering the very best of services to our community.
