Family Fire Reach

Fire Service launch new course to offer families firefighter training experience!

This Saturday at Easterhouse community fire station Strathclyde Fire & Rescue launch their latest community safety initiative with a twist.

Assistant Chief Officer Lewis Ramsay, Director of Community Safety, said, Family Fire Reach offers adults and young people the chance to experience firefighter training together. The course is a hands on, fun event.  I'm sure that people will not only enjoy it, but will also learn more about the type of hazards faced by their local firefighters. We want to help keep people safe not only in their homes, but in their community. Every family involved will be offered a home fire safety visit, including a free long life smoke alarm.

Families participating will go through a number of disciplines including:

• Fireground drill
• Hose running
• Hydrant to pump exercise
• Search and Rescue exercise

They will have the opportunity to wear full fire kit, including breathing apparatus, as they search for casualties in simulated fire conditions.

The families participating in the first course are part of FARE (Family Action for Rogerfield and Easterhouse) the same group who helped put together the award winning Junior Fire Reach initiative for youths aged 7-12.

Since launching Junior Fire Reach at Easterhouse fire station in 2007, several thousand young people have participated in Fire Reach courses.

Community Safety Development Co-ordinator Stephen McKee said, We are always interested in finding new ways to engage with our community.  The response from our community to these courses has been phenomenal.  500 young people trained at the station in the first year.  Since then it has continued to snowball.  Our vision has always been to throw open the doors of our stations and let people find out about the job we do.  Fire stations are part of the community.  Family Fire Reach is another fun way we can work together.

Easterhouse Station Commander Scott Murray said, Over the last few years we have had tremendous support from a number of partners.  FARE are a true grass roots organisation.  They are well known, and respected, in the community, and their boundless energy and determination to create positive opportunities for people cannot be underestimated.  Glasgow Community Planning Partnership, Glasgow City Council, the GHA, local housing and many others have also given us great support.

FARE Service Manager Jimmy Wilson said, Family Action for Rogerfield and Easterhouse has always been about people of all ages.  It was started by local families in 1989 with the basic aim of creating positive opportunities in Easterhouse.  Family Fire Reach is a great activity for families to have fun and learn together.

The Junior Fire Reach project, which originated in Easterhouse, has now been rolled out across Strathclyde, and has been recognised nationally as a best practice, winning a prestigious COSLA award and Glasgow Evening Times Community Champions award.  Over the last few years participating stations have also seen a dramatic drop in firesetting and hydrant vandalism.

VENUE
Easterhouse Community Fire Station,
Grudie Street,
Easterhouse
G34 9BL

TIME - Saturday 12th June, 10.00-13.00

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION please contact
Stephen McKee
Community Safety Development Co-ordinator
01698 402 671
07766 134 269
stephen.mckee@strathclydefire.org