Barrow firefighters are taking to the town's streets this week as part of a multi-agency campaign to tackle anti-social behaviour.
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service is joining forces with the police, Neighbourhood Watch groups and other organisations to encourage residents to join forces and say Not in my Neighbourhood.
The aim of the week is to communicate with local communities and show the work being done to tackle crime, arson, anti-social behaviour and alcohol misuse in their areas and to get local communities involved.
Throughout the week, firefighters will be taking a group of young people from the town through the latest Young Firefighters Phoenix Course.
Firefighters are seen as positive role models and the Young Firefighters scheme is helping crews to forge closer links with young people who may underachieve at school or struggle with social problems.
The innovative scheme helps young people from Barrow to build their self-confidence and improve teamwork and communication by training them in basic fire and rescue service skills like first aid and rudimentary fire fighting.
On Wednesday 17 October, firefighters and community safety officers will be taking part in a major Streetsafe operation will see them out and about, providing free home safety checks, fitting smoke alarms and giving residents the opportunity to raise any community concerns.
The following day (Thursday 18 October), firefighters will be attending a special conference at Barrow's Forum 28 where they will talk about the work they do to help tackle anti-social behaviour fires which are a blight on many communities with around 90 per cent of fires involving rubbish and derelict vehicles. Joining them at the conference will be representatives from the Home Office, police and Neighbourhood Watch.
On Saturday 20 October, firefighters will be talking to St. John's Ambulance members in Barrow about fire prevention.
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service's group manager Dave Coverdale, said: "Working with the police and other agencies to help tackle anti-social behaviour is now very much part of everyday life for firefighters and community safety officers.
"Whether in a local school delivering Road Awareness Training or engaging with young people through Young Firefighters schemes, Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service is committed to improving safety and tackling anti-social behaviour."
Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service carries out free home safety checks which include advice on the best escape route to take, checking the home for fire hazards and installing a free smoke alarm where required. For more advice or to arrange a free Home Safety Check, people can contact Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service on 0800-358-4777.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337
Notes
Streetsafe is an ongoing community project which aims to tackle local community problems at a local level. Streetsafe operations are held all over the south of Cumbria covering Barrow Borough Council and South Lakeland District Council. For more information, visit the Streetsafe website at www.streetsafe.org.uk