Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is committed to working towards making Norfolk safer

Traditionally, Shrove Tuesday (21st February) marks the beginning of Lent, when hundreds of people throughout the country make pancakes, before they begin a 40 day fast. When you are distracted by the haunting image of a delicious, warm pancake sprinkled with lemon juice and sugar, fire safety may not be at the forefront of your mind! However, fat and chip pan fires can be devastating, with a very high proportion of fires resulting in injuries.

Making pancakes can be lots of fun for the whole family and they certainly can be delicious. However, over 50% of all accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen so please take care, especially when cooking with oil.
When using a frying pan or cooking with hot oil, remember:

• Never leave the pan unattended when the heat is switched on
• Do NOT move the pan if it is on fire!
If the pan does catch fire:
• Don’t take any risks. Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so. Never throw water over it.
• Don’t tackle the fire yourself.
• GET OUT, STAY OUT, CALL 999.

And when you have finished cooking, make sure that all the appliances are turned off and the cooking area is clear.

A working smoke alarm will greatly increase your chances of escaping unharmed. Have a plan and follow it - know exactly which way you will leave the house, and know where you will go.

Stay alive, stay safe, and make sure the alarm works properly;

• Test your smoke alarm(s) every week
• Change the battery every year (unless it's a 10 year alarm)
• Clean it out properly at least twice every year, by vacuuming the inside.

For further advice on fire safety visit www.facebook.com/firekills or www.norfolkfireservice.gov.uk

We have added a report to our website entitled: Meeting our Equality Duties - First Report.  

Click below to access the report.

http://www.norfolkfireservice.gov.uk/nfrs/nfrs-business/meeting-our-equality-duties-first-report

Sheringham's new fire station has been officially opened by Fire Minister Bob Neill.

The £1.25m station in Cromer Road is a first for Norfolk as the building is shared with East of England Ambulance Service and Norfolk Constabulary.

Mr Neill said: "This new station shows real commitment to improving frontline services. Investing in 21st Century fire stations in the right locations will help save lives and deliver a service that meets the needs of today's world.

"Sheringham fire station is a fantastic example of the Fire and Rescue Authority putting itself at the heart of its local community and working in conjunction with the other emergency services to provide a facility of which Sheringham can be justifiably proud."

Harry Humphrey, Cabinet Member for Community Protection, said: "This is an exciting move for all concerned and we are delighted to be able to work so closely with our emergency service partners in this way. To my mind the emergency services sharing premises makes absolute sense rather than each having separate buildings. The Sheringham model could be replicated elsewhere should the opportunity arise."

Funded by Tesco as part of the development of the site of the former fire station, the new two-storey building houses a fire engine, personnel quarters, accommodation for a neighbourhood policing team and a response base for the ambulance service.

Incorporated into the station is a brick-built drill tower, giving the station an enhanced training facility to that of the old station. The tower will enable crews to train for incidents involving high rise buildings and differing sized openings will create varying conditions to train under.

The building was completed on the 21st of November 2011 and handed over to Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service by Allan Roe of Tesco.

Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and other local partners continue to work with Tesco on proposals to include community safety facilities in the future redevelopment of the old fire station site.

Mr Roe said: "Tesco is delighted to have completed the first step in our programme to offer improved services for Sheringham. The new Fire Station will be followed by a state of the art Community Centre and finally a Supermarket which will all serve to support the local community."

NPS worked on behalf of Norfolk County Council to secure the new fire station and community centre.

The Sheringham crew moved to the new site on the evening of the 22nd of December 2011, with the first fire call being responded to from the new station on the 29th of December.

Sheringham is a Retained fire station with a crew consisting of one Watch Manager, two Crew Managers and nine firefighters. The previous fire station in Cromer Road, opposite the new one, was built in 1963.