Manchester Fire Chief sets out priorities for the next four years with a pledge to improve and regulate the built environment, in order to protect people, property, and the economy.
This is the first Fire Plan for Greater Manchester since responsibility for the fire and rescue service moved to the Mayor, Andy Burnham. The Plan addresses the impact of major incidents such as the Manchester Arena attack in 2017 and the 2019 Cube fire in Bolton.
Fire Plan
Commenting on the launch of the Plan, Chief Fire Officer - Dave Russel said, “Greater Manchester’s environment is undergoing rapid change, with the growing number of high-rise developments being built, an increasing population, and the impact of the climate emergency on our communities."
He adds, "However, the Fire Plan allows us to reset our priorities based on these challenges, ensuring we can prevent, protect and respond efficiently to meet the needs of our communities.”
six priorities
Protecting the built environment is one of six priorities in the four-year plan. The commitments include:
- Engaging with residents to increase pressure on the Government to make buildings safe and protect leaseholders from the financial costs of failed regulation and building control.
- Applying pressure on the Government to fund adequate numbers of qualified staff to successfully deliver their building safety programs and the requirements of the new national regulatory regime.
- Working with partners to provide advice and support to developers, building control, building owners, businesses, and planning teams to embed fire safety as soon as possible and throughout the life of a building.
- Robust enforcement and prosecutorial action when necessary, to ensure the safety of the users of a building, and the safety of the environment around it.
integrated response
Mayor Andy Burnham created the Greater Manchester High Rise Task Force to provide an integrated response to the risk in high-rise residential buildings. This is chaired by the Mayor of Salford, Paul Dennett, and brings together a range of organizations across the area including local authorities, landlords, and building control.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has completed the inspection of 500 residential high rises in Greater Manchester, to ensure they comply with fire safety regulations. Fire officers have been working with housing providers, local authorities, and the private sector to ensure all buildings receive the right fire safety advice and residents feel safe in their homes.