Prevention

Our prevention work aims to reduce people’s vulnerability to the type of emergencies to which we respond.  

Firefighters carry out thousands of ‘Safe and Well’ visits every year. They give advice to our more vulnerable residents to help reduce the risk of fire – to smokers or people living with dementia, for example - and can get them extra support if they need it.  

Strong partnerships with colleagues and organisations in other sectors help us to identify and support people who are at higher risk from fires and other emergencies.  

We carried out more than 36,600 ‘Safe and Well’ visits in 2021/22, of which 15,000 originated from partner referrals. We also handed out 12,000 pieces of equipment such as smoke alarms, hearing impaired alarms and fire-retardant bedding.

But our prevention work extends well beyond the home. We provide fire and road safety education to hundreds of schools and colleges and at our interactive ‘Safeside’ learning centre in Birmingham, as well as at public events and through our popular Fire Cadets programme. Our WMFS volunteers support and add value to the delivery of many of these education programmes.

Our Fire Investigation team provides valuable information about the cause of fires. This helps us to ensure that we understand risks and target our resources effectively. Our highly regarded Fire Investigation team also provides investigation services to other brigades.

Specialist prevention and partnership teams support our firefighters with building strong community links to reduce anti-social behaviour including arson.

We know that some of the most vulnerable road users are aged 17 to 29. That’s why our firefighters and Road Casualty Reduction Team deliver key road safety messages to children and work with young drivers and passengers to help them understand the consequences of choices made at the wheel.