AN inspection of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service says the countywide 999 service is making clear progress,.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services carried out the survey and its report recognises 'stronger prevention and protection work and a sharper focus on the risks facing communities across Essex'. 

The Inspectorate concludes the service is improving and heading in the right direction, highlighting the impact of its prevention and protection work. 

The report describes a service that is professional, responsive and continuing to adapt as risks across Essex change. 

Roger Hirst MBE, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex and Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service

Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive, said: "We welcome this report.  It reflects the Service I know. HMICFRS has recognised the progress we have made and the professionalism of our people, and we are encouraged by this." 

He added: "The areas for improvement identified, including operational availability, training consistency and organisational learning, are already built into how we plan and manage risk through our Community Risk Management Plan and Service Delivery Plans.  

"Work is well underway to strengthen them." 

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In the past year, ECFRS has: 

• completed more than 10,000 home fire safety visits, most targeted at vulnerable people, including dedicated Days of Action delivering 2,829 visits in a single month and support to residents in more than 200 sheltered housing schemes 
• fitted more than 14,000 smoke alarms in people's homes, helping residents stay safe, test their alarms and plan how to escape if a fire happens 
• strengthened fire protection work, including inspecting more than 150 high-rise residential buildings and taking enforcement action where needed to improve safety 
• carried out more fire safety checks in businesses to make sure standards are being met 
• improved how it checks its work and uses risk information to better understand and manage changing risk across Essex 

This work helps reduce risk in people's homes, businesses and communities every day, alongside the Service's emergency response. 

The Service also works in schools and communities across Essex, reaching more than 197,000 young people in the last academic year through over 2,300 sessions in schools.  

This includes education on water safety, road safety, online risks and healthy relationships, as well as work to tackle issues such as violence against women and girls.

 Programmes such as Fire Cadets and FireBreak help young people build confidence, skills and resilience, supporting them to stay safe and make positive life choices. 

Since 2019, fire-related injuries have fallen by 13.6% and accidental house fires by 13.3%, as Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has continued to focus on prevention, partnership working and community safety across the county. 

The inspection also recognises how the Service understands and manages risk, planning ahead to meet changing demand and making sure its resources are focused where they are needed most. 

Roger Hirst MBE, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: "I welcome the publication of this report today. It shows the Service is improving, with a clear focus on prevention, protection and managing the risks facing communities across Essex.

"It also highlights where more needs to be done, and that work is already under way. 

"I want to thank our firefighters, staff and volunteers for what they do every day to keep people safe.  

"We need to keep building on this progress and make sure the Service is ready for the risks Essex faces, now and in the future." 

Mr Hylton added: "Essex is a growing and changing county, and our service must continue to evolve with it.  

"This report confirms we are moving in the right direction and delivering on our ambition to make Essex safer together."