After yesterday’s (October 11) Fire Authority (FA) meeting, which was held at Service Headquarters in Washington – we can announce that the Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) 2021-24 has been fully agreed.

Three out of the four IRMP proposals had already been approved following last month’s FA meeting with the panel requesting for Proposal Three (Birtley Community Fire Station) to be resubmitted in October.

During the meeting, Members approved the final proposal with the option for a Day Crewing On-Call (DCOC) staffing model to be introduced at Birtley Community Fire Station. This will replace the current Day Crewing Close Call (DCCC) arrangements and we are planning to implement this by the end of March 2022.

Local residents and businesses across Tyne and Wear were given the opportunity to consult upon the IRMP 2021-24 between 14 June and 11 August 2021.

Chief Fire Officer, Chris Lowther of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said:

“We are pleased to announce that our IRMP can now move forward and be implemented with the standout headline being the creation of 54 new firefighter roles throughout Tyne and Wear.

“The overall outcome shows how we have consulted and listened to the public voice and given them a high degree of reassurance that we are providing a service that is ‘Creating the Safest Community’.

“We would like to thank everybody involved with the IRMP consultation process from Tyne and Wear FRS staff through to residents who actively took part in the survey.  We look forward to implementing the proposals over the next three years.”

Here’s a reminder of the other three approved IRMP proposals:

Proposal One:        

To introduce an additional fire appliance at West Denton Community Fire Station. This proposal would result in the addition of a further 4 Crew Managers and 12 Firefighter roles into the Service.

Proposal Two:       

To primary staff the Service’s Aerial Ladder Platforms (ALPs). This proposal would result in the addition of a further 8 Crew Managers and 16 Firefighter roles into the Service.

Proposal Four:       

To change the current shift arrangements at Rainton Bridge Community Fire Station. This proposal will result in the addition of a further 2 Watch Managers, 3 Crew Managers and 8 Firefighter roles into the Service.

The proposals become IRMP Actions and work will now commence, in consultation with the Representative Bodies to implement them.