Agenda item

The commission first heard from the Borough Fire Commander, Verona Rawlings on the following themes

·  Borough Statistics (Dock head, Old Kent & Peckham) – 5183 fire incidents 2023-2024, 4% increase since last year in primary fires (insurable risks), secondary fires such as rubbish fires down by 12%, single dwelling fires up by 1%. Care home fires down by 14% (intervention by dialogue with care homes- fire safety messaging)

·  1945 Home Safety Fire visits conducted, Online fire safety check launched last year, 218 accidental dwelling fires, fire casualties 16 % decrease, decrease in arson incidents to 67, commercial properties shops and dwelling fire safety checks

·  179 E-bike fires in London; modification kits purchased online not up to British standard, Council working with fire service on clearing communal areas where e-bikes are being charged to provide egress to residents, campaigns on charge safe

The commission then asked questions on the following points

·  Data on how many e-bike modifications have taken place; e-bike storage and legislation; Steps taken to further reduce the no. of e-bike fires

·  Risk assessment of shops and dwelling fires and fire service capacity; specific fire safety concerns in wards

·  High rise buildings update

The commission heard from Verona that e-bike modification data is not currently available as they are available freely online and also that there is currently no legislation in place to regulate people from purchasing modification kits for e-bikes. Furthermore, the fire service is actively spreading fire safety message to the public on avoiding such fires by ensuring proper storage and charging methods. In addition the fire service has overhauled its community engagement team with more fire safety interaction within the community.

Verona informed the commission that the fire service capacity of dealing with fires is sufficient at the moment. London Fire Brigade data is shared across the London fire stations with every station having access to risk assessments, entry’s’ and exit’s of high rise buildings remotely, in case of resources being stretched as in wild fires last year other stations step in to help. Fire borough commanders’ work together to produce borough risk management plans with specific safeguarding plans for wards, these plans are shared with the ward councillors on email by the fire safety watch teams and ward councillors are encouraged to respond to them. The commission requested that ward wise breakdown on fire safety data be provided at a later stage.

Verona explained to the commission that high rise building are profiled according to the severity of risk factors and some high risk blocks could get weekly visits and simultaneous evacuation plans. Southwark council was on the first councils’ to upload data into the high rise portal which is shared across the London fire brigade, any modifications to building are also uploaded and risk areas are targeted with home safety visits. Grenfell Phase 1 recommendations have been implemented across the London fire brigade with high reach ladders located centrally at Old Kent Road. Furthermore, command unit at Dockhead fire station is equipped with specialist crew and drone technology. Statistically in Southwark the fire risk profile indicates a higher risk in shops and dwelling rather than tall buildings, this is a result of the work done in fire safety of tall buildings across partner agencies.