News

News | Charity Events | Legislation Changes

To view the latest news please see below

5 July 2007

IOW Firefighters Join the Relief Effort at Toll Bar, South Yorkshire

Four Isle of Wight Firefighters from Newport Fire Station will be travelling to Toll Bar, South Yorkshire, on Friday 6 July to take part in the relief effort. The Firefighters will be manning High Volume Pumps which are working round the clock to reduce the water levels in the village.

They will be relieved on Monday by three of their colleagues from Newport who will continue with the pumping operation.

The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is responding as part of the National Mutual Aid Protocol.

27 June 2007

New Chief Fire Officer Named

The Isle of Wight Council is pleased to announce that Paul Street has been appointed Chief Fire Officer.

Paul, 48, of Brighstone, was appointed following a selection process that drew applications from all over the UK.

Mr Street, who has been a firefighter on the Island since 1978, has been Acting Chief Fire Officer since October 2005. In that time, the Service has moved on from an Audit Commission rating of 'poor' to its current position of 'improving well'.

Mr Street said: "I am delighted to have been appointed Chief Fire Officer. The tasks ahead within the context of modernisation will be challenging.

"However, I am confident that with the support of Members, Directors and Staff and Unions within the Service we will continue to improve at a pace."

IW Council Leader Andy Sutton said: "I know Paul has the respect not only of the Fire Service but of the political leadership of the Island.

"That he has risen through the ranks shows that dedication and professionalism are qualities recognised and rewarded by the IW Council.

"I look forward to continuing our excellent relationship with Paul and his staff as we continue our modernisation agenda."

Stuart Love, IW Council Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods, said "Paul not only understands the need to take the Service forward through modernisation, he has been at the heart of the great work done so far in that direction.

"Paul has tremendous knowledge of the service at all levels and also has a great passion for the Isle of Wight."

Mr Street has enjoyed a steady rise through the ranks of the IW Fire and Rescue Service since 1978.

In 1986 he was appointed Leading Fire-fighter and a year later he was promoted to Sub Officer.

He continued to progress and in 1995 he became Brigade Training Officer. After a period in an acting capacity, he was promoted to Third Officer in 2001 and then became Area Manager in 2005. In the same year, he was promoted to Assistant Chief Fire Officer.

Mr Street has gained numerous professional qualifications and in 2005 earned a Master of Arts in Health and Safety Law and Environmental Law from Salford University.

He is a member of numerous professional bodies including the Institute of Directors and the Institute for Risk Management.

In his spare time, Mr Street enjoys paragliding, photography and local history.

Celebrating Success

Date: 28/03/2007

TWO MEMBERS of the IW Fire and Rescue Service have attended a Government reception in Westminster to honour those who have worked successfully to reduce the number of fire deaths.

Graham Orchard, Community Fire Prevention and Protection Manager and Julian Fountaine, Community Safety Manager attended the event at Portcullis House, part of the Houses in Parliament, on behalf of the IW Fire and Rescue Service.

They joined around 100 fire service colleagues from brigades across the UK at the reception attended by senior government officials including Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Ruth Kelly, Minister for Local Government Phil Woolas, and Fire Minister Angela Smith.

Ruth Kelly said: “Thanks to the outstanding commitment and bravery of our fire and rescue staff, fire deaths are at their lowest for nearly 50 years.

“The fire and rescue service staff have worked tirelessly, remaining cool and professional in very difficult circumstances.”

Both the Island delegates said they were delighted to be representing the county.

Mr Fountaine said: “It was pleasing that we could attend the event knowing improvements we have made locally to the IW Fire and Rescue Service was very much in keeping with the national successes.

Mr Orchard said: “It has been quite a week for the Island’s service and it was great to be able to attend the event knowing that the service will remain on the Island with the support of the entire community behind us.”

Both men were chosen to represent the IW Fire and Rescue Service at the reception by acting chief fire officer Paul Street.

Mr Street said: “While Julian and Graham made the trip, they were representing the great work done by so many in their teams.

“The excellent fire prevention work has been matched in other areas of the service. It is this sort of dedication and teamwork that has brought about the steady improvements across the service.”

Barry Abraham, IW Council cabinet member for Safer Communities said: “

“There has been a tremendous amount of hard work done recently throughout the brigade and while we all appreciate it here on the Island, it is gratifying that these achievements are also recognised by Government.”

Fire Service to Stay on the Isle of Wight
Date: 22/03/2007
Councillors on the Isle of Wight have voted unanimously to keep control of their fire and rescue service.

The IW Council had been exploring three management options as ways it could continue to modernise after being found to be offering a poor service by Government inspectors in 2005.

Those options included collaborating more closely with the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service or merging altogether with the mainland authority.

But members of the IW Council instead voted last night (Wednesday) on the third option -- to maintain the existing arrangements under which it keeps control of its own service.

Councillors also voted to explore further collaboration with other 'blue light' services on the Island.
After the meeting, IW Council cabinet member for Safer Neighbourhoods, Cllr Barry Abraham said:

"This vote is about more than simply keeping the status quo. It is about ensuring the IW Fire and Rescue Service continues to improve and provide a still more efficient service."

To view previous months news report please see links below: