JUNE 2012 INFORMATIVE The quarterly bulletin of the North Fire and Rescue Service

Pupils shine in New partnership colouring competition Presentation of the winners with coastguards of the poster colouring Fire and Rescue Service competition with their prizes has officially welcomed the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to its fire station at Flint Dolgellau hairdresser helps to save lives Launch of new website Hairdressing salon offers fire safety advice alongside traditional New website, fresh, modern and cutting and colouring services easy to use

www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk Preventing / Protecting / Responding // 2 the benefit of both parties.” would maximise the use of facilities to adopt a partnership arrangement which “This provided an ideal opportunity to Flint Fire Station. agreed that we could occupy a bay at that North Wales Fire and Rescue Service at Flint for some time and are pleased Coastguard had been looking for a base Coastguard Station explains: “Flint Station Officer Garry Jones at Flint Coastguard. and rescue at sea through Her Majesty’s of lives at sea and co-ordinates search is responsible for preventing the loss The Maritime and Coastguard Agency other to protect the public. its fire station at Flint with a new partnership which will see both organisations working alongside each North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has officially welcomed the Maritime and Coastguard Agency to with New part C oastguard n down costs.” public as well as helping to drive the best possible service to the helping us to ensure we provide successful partnerships already partnership working, with many “We recognise the value of Station. Coastguard response vehicle at Flint Fire more than happy to accommodate the said: “As we had the space we were North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Kevin Brain, Response Manager with ership from the RNLI. politicians as well as representatives Wales Fire and Rescue Service, local Maritime and Coastguard Agency, North attended by representatives from the The official opening ceremony was www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk

www.viewcreative.co.uk in a bid to encourage people to log on and find out more about fire safety. North Wales Fire and Rescue Service launched a new look website in May www. n l www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk 44 fire stations across the region. as finding out more information about the free home fire safety check online as well Visitors to the site can also register for a Wales. for all who live, work and travel in North listed and has a wealth of fire safety tips breaking news, has all job opportunities The site also broadcasts the latest interactive games. for children and teachers with animated Rescue’s You Tube channel and a section a direct link to North Wales Fire and the official facebook and twitter pages, The new site features a live feed from au ew website n n wa ch of l es-fireservice.org.uk those visiting our website. to share all our latest information with the social networking sites allows us to use, and the addition of the links from “The design is fresh, modern and easy user. offers lots of new features for the our new look website, which “We are thrilled to be launching Officer said: Ruth Simmons, Assistant Chief Fire // 3 Arson Reduction Team funds Easter projects

More than £7,000 was shared on projects across North Wales in a bid to help reduce anti-social behaviour throughout the Easter Holidays.

Thirty nine projects involving local Neighbourhood Policing Teams and the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service were awarded with funding made available by the North Wales Arson Reduction Team. Pupils shine Sergeant Melanie Brace, from the Arson Reduction Team, said: “Policing teams across North in colouring competition Wales made a bid for the money in order to hold activities such Fire Officers from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service recently as Easter Egg hunts to engage visited primary schools across North Wales to present the winners of with the youngsters in their a poster colouring competition with their prizes. local communities and provide a diversion away from anti social Six year old Anna Jones, from All the winning children were presented alternatives. Nercwys School was judged top of with Argos gift vouchers. the competition after her poster was “These activities will help foster selected from over 300 entries from Gareth Griffiths, Senior Fire Safety better relationships between police, youngsters across North Wales. Manager, said: other agencies and young people. Pupils at the school received a “In many of the areas these presentation on fire safety during their “We are pleased that Dolgellau hairdresser helps to save activities are being given as assembly. schools across the region part of a reward for the young took time to participate in lives while cutting and colouring people’s good behaviour within Thomas Dantith from Ysgol T Gwynn the poster competition.” their community by taking part in Jones was awarded the second prize and activities such as litter picking.” Osian James Morgan from Ysgol Glan A partnership has been set up between a hairdressing salon in Dolgellau and North Wales Fire and Morfa, Sali Rees Hughes from Ysgol Pen “The purpose of such a competition is Rescue Service to protect clients by offering fire safety advice alongside their traditional cutting Various projects took place such as Barras and Jake Jennion from Hirael for youngsters to learn about fire safety and colouring services. intergenerational events for young School were jointly awarded third prize. in an enjoyable way - we then hope that and elderly residents in King’s they retain the safety messages for the Liz Morley, proprietor of GM Paul Williams, Community Safety way to get fire safety messages across Road and Llys Seiriol, Llandudno, The competition involved colouring fire future.” Hairdressers, Arran Bridge prides herself Support Worker for North Wales Fire and to harder to reach members of the equipment for a recently opened safety posters, produced by the fire on the friendly service she provides to Rescue Service is one of Liz’s regular community. Youth Club in Rhos on Sea, a trip and rescue service, which included the her wide customer base, and saw the hairdressing clients. It was while they for Conwy youths to Deeside ice message ‘Never play with fire’. opportunity to help protect her clients. talked at the salon that the idea to “Liz’s commitment to protecting the skating rink, a gardening project This came about after one of her promote fire safety was formed. welfare of her clients is inspirational with the West Rhyl Marshalls and customers, a fire and rescue service and the work she’s doing is going a long towards organising an Easter party staff member, explained the importance Liz now gives basic fire safety advice way to prevent fires and safeguard lives for young people attending the Pop of fire safety in the home. to her clients on the use of heated within the Dolgellau community.” In Youth Centre in Prestatyn. hair appliances and the importance of Liz explained: working smoke alarms and promotes the Liz added: “I’m just happy to be helping free home fire safety checks offered by to protect the safety of the customers North Wales Fire and Rescue Service. who support me and I hope the advice “We have customers of all ages that I pass on will help them think about and backgrounds coming into the Paul said: “Many of the residents from fire safety in the home.” salon – they love to talk and it got local residential homes for the elderly me thinking that I’d like to make and local centres for young people with sure that they take something mental health issues attend regular away from our chats to help appointments at the salon – the relaxed keep them as safe as possible.” atmosphere and rapport the clients have with Liz means that this is a great

// 4 www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk // 5 Local youngsters help Arson Reduction Team to improve woodlands receive exceptional award

The High Sheriff of Clwyd, Mr E F Lloyd FitzHugh OBE DL JP, awarded a certificate to members of the Arson Reduction Team at the annual Community Service Awards in March.

Melanie Lawton, Lynne Jones and Amanda Venables received the honour at an event held in Yale College in recognition of their exceptional commitment to community safety in North Wales.

The Arson Reduction Team is leading and Tan y Gopa, . All activity Melanie Lawton, Arson Reduction Bowled over by match the way with the start of an exciting will be monitored by police officers and Coordinator, said: “We will also put up new pilot initiative in March aimed the Arson Reduction Team and will be the new Woodland Watch signs and at Wrexham Fire Station at protecting woodland areas from reviewed in September 2012. generally improve the area. We are deliberate fires and crime. hoping that this will reduce deliberate Niki Lodge, Police Community Support fires in these areas.” The ‘Woodland Watch’ scheme was Officer, said: launched with representatives from , the Forestry Commission, Countryside Council for Wales, the “We visited the site with local Woodland Trust, local politicians, school children and spent members of the local community and about an hour putting up school children. bird and bat boxes, picking up litter and discussing The pilot area for the scheme is Gwrych consequences of deliberate fires.” Castle woods on Rhyd y Foel mountain

Money for old soap – thousands raised! Wrexham Fire Station hosted the Clwyd “We would like to thank Chief Fire Officer Fire crews from across North Wales got all in a lather in March - Short-Mat Bowls Competition in March. Simon Smith, Watch Manager David raising over £5,000 towards the national car wash in aid of The Fire Bithell, and White Watch personnel at Fighters Charity. The society also raised money for charity Wrexham Station for their generosity in – funds from the competition were allowing us to use the fire station for this The money raised for the charity was boosted by an agreement with donated to ‘Macmillan Nurses’. event for the fifth year running.” Barclays Bank, who pledged to match fund the proceeds from the fire stations. Freda Hancocks, Chair of the indoor bowls club, said: Paul Claydon, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, said: “We raised a staggering amount of money for The Fire Fighters Charity this year, and I’d like to thank all the staff, their families and friends who have put in the “Eight teams entered and all effort to raise funds for this worthy charity, as well as the public for the players enjoyed the day. supporting us by having their cars washed at the station.”

// 6 www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk // 7 Launch of seat belt campaign

An all Wales campaign to encourage Every year police throughout Wales along the launch of the 2012 National Seatbelt motorists and passengers to wear with partners run a number of road safety Campaign. With over 6,000 people now seatbelts was launched in March at the campaigns based around the ‘Fatal 5’ – the working at the Broughton plant, we are keen Airbus UK plant in Flintshire. five main contributory factors in fatal road to promote travelling to and from work in a traffic collisions. safe manner. More than 2,000 motorists across • driving without a seatbelt Wales were prosecuted for not wearing a • drink and drug driving “We have worked in partnership with seatbelt during a month-long, multi-agency • driving while using a mobile phone Flintshire County Council for a number of crackdown last year. • speeding years and we have supported over 100 of • careless and dangerous driving. our apprentices during the last five years Nearly 100 people were also caught not The March seatbelt campaign for 2012 will who have successfully completed the Pass wearing seatbelts throughout North Wales be followed by campaigns focusing on these Plus Cymru Driving Initiative.” during a separate week-long campaign in contributory factors during the year. September 2011. Gareth Griffiths, Senior Fire Safety Manager, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Shannon said: said: “We are pleased to be supporting This year the Welsh emergency services, this launch at Airbus. The fire and rescue with support from councils and road safety service is always trying to get the message groups, will continue to make a robust effort “It is disappointing that more than across that wearing a seatbelt really to ensure all drivers and passengers 2,000 motorists in Wales were could mean the difference between life buckle up. caught not wearing a seatbelt and death, and that applies just as much during last year’s campaign. to passengers as it does to drivers. The It is estimated that every year more than majority of people are aware of the risk of 1,000 lives are saved in the UK as a direct not wearing a seatbelt, but there are still result of wearing a seatbelt. “The consequences of not belting up can some who choose to ignore the dangers.” be fatal and we are determined to reduce Motorists and passengers who choose to the number of deaths and serious injuries risk their lives by not wearing a seatbelt on our roads. could receive a £60 Fixed Penalty Notice or a court imposed fine up to £500. “We will continue to be robust to ensure all drivers and passengers wear seatbelts and During the two week campaign, police pursue an active approach, all year round, officers will be carrying out targeted patrols to educate motorists and enforce seatbelt to stop, and if appropriate, fine drivers and laws.” passengers not wearing seatbelts. Head of the Airbus Plant at Broughton, Paul Mckinlay said: “Airbus is pleased to host

// 8 www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk