Towards 2020: An integrated risk management plan for Kent and
Medway
The Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue
Authority took a decision on 15 February 2012 to take the next step
in a redesigning of the Service to meet the challenges of the 21st
Century. This will ensure it has its stations and equipment in the
right locations to deal with emergencies across the county.
The change follows a three year review that began before the
economic downturn with the aim of improving the Service, not making
savings. The review was prompted by a 25% drop in fires and other
incidents since 2005, and the need to tackle the fact that the
Service has more fire engines and stations than it needs.
Using extensive data gathered over the past five years, the
review looked in detail at the number of fire engines needed,
whether stations were still in the right locations and where there
was any unnecessary over-provision with another station covering
virtually the same area. It also looked at future developments such
as new housing, predictions of more severe weather and higher
numbers of vulnerable and elderly people living alone.
The redesign includes:
Working differently
Taking a more flexible approach - standing up engines during
busy periods e.g. during a dry summer or standing them down when
demand is low
Investigating using new kinds of vehicles such as fast response
units, 4x4s and quad bikes for certain types of incidents such as
bin or grass fires, or road traffic collisions, so saving money and
improving emergency response times
Continue the investment in helping local people and businesses
to keep themselves safe, which has contributed to a 25% fall in
incidents over five years
Tackling false alarms
False alarms account for a third of all calls we attend – 98 per
cent of these calls are triggered by things like dust or poorly
maintained systems. This disrupts your building or business and
diverts firefighters from genuine emergencies.
- From 2 April 2012, all calls from automatic fire alarms will be
challenged by the Service’s 999 staff.
- During the day (6am to 6pm), unless the incident can be
confirmed to be an actual fire or signs of fire, an engine will not
be sent.
- However, for a further year (to April 2013), a fire engine will
be sent to calls to automatic fire alarms received at night (6pm to
6 am), where a procedure has not been introduced to confirm a fire.
This is to allow those responsible for managing premises extra time
to make any required changes to their procedures.
- This change will apply to all calls whether they are made from
the affected building, through a call handling organisation or some
other method.
- More information about this policy.
Firefighters and equipment in the right locations to meet
modern day needs
Five new stations will be built - in New Ash Green and Herne
Bay, along with the new station planned for Ramsgate and two in the
Medway Towns.
In considering both local needs and major incidents all the
evidence shows that KFRS has eight more fire engines than it
actually needs, even to deal with a major emergency.
As a result KFRS will be closing eight stations (Matfield,
Halling, Horton Kirby, Sturry, Seal, St Margaret’s, Queenborough,
Rusthall), with staff moving to other nearby stations or offered
alternative contracts. Hythe will lose its second fire engine as it
is not needed
Horton Kirby will not close until a new fire station is built in
New Ash Green. At that point station grounds will be redrawn so
that Horton Kirby and South Darenth will be served primarily by the
two full time fire engines in Dartford, with back up from other
nearby stations. The new station will then serve New Ash Green,
West Kingsdown, and Hartley areas.
What will happen to the fire stations and fire engines?
The fire stations that KFRS does not need will be closed and
then we will explore future options for the disposal of the
buildings including potential use in the community or an open sale
with the money going towards the five new stations that are needed.
Fire engines from these stations will be removed from the fleet, or
used as spare vehicles.
More information
We have published all the information we have used that has
resulted in these decisions being made. This information
was available from November 2011 to 16 January 2012 and can
still be seen via the links on the right of this page.
If you’d like a printed copy of any of the information, call us
on 01622 212 428, email irmp@kent.fire-uk.org or write
to us at:
Kent Fire and Rescue Service
FREEPOST NAT 9369
Maidstone
ME15 6BR
Addendums
As part of the consultation process, we have committed to
correcting information which is highlighted to us as not being
clear, or is incorrect.