Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 21/03/2005 13:30

Cornwall County Fire Brigade’s Fire Safety Officers with PC Luke Cox are visiting St Ives School – with an important message on fire safety.

The aim of the afternoon will be to raise awareness of fire safety in the home and the effects of arson to the community.

The Fire Officers, with PC Luke Cox, will be covering anti-social behaviour and demonstrate how the law responds to it. Young people will be encouraged to be more understanding of others who may be less fortunate than themselves, and to be responsible for their actions in there own communities .

“Year Ten pupils will be divided up into five groups and meet with different Fire Service and Police representatives. They are the Hayle Safe Fire Officers, Phoenix Project Leaders, Richard Gibbons with the Arson Detection Dogs, PC Luke Cox the youth interventions officer for Penwith and practical careers advisors” explained Public Relations Officer Davinia Grist.

“Hayle Safe is an initiative started by Cornwall County Fire Brigade in September 2004 to visit every property in the Hayle area, giving advice on fire and other safety related matters, fit smoke alarms to vulnerable groups, work with business and other agencies to reduce arson and related crimes, visit youth groups, schools, community groups and activities to educate the public on safety issues” said John Navin, Hayle Safe Officer
The Phoenix Project is a fun and exciting opportunity to work with the fire service. It gives youngsters a variety of mental and physical activities to help build team spirit, build self confidence and esteem. The course lasts for one week and teenagers are referred by various different agencies including schools and the police.

The aim of the Phoenix Project is to invest in young people, using the reputation of the brigade to benefit youngsters and in turn the wider community. They have recently started a six week mentoring programme as a follow up to the week’s course. The young people are brought back to the brigade for one evening a week to see how they are progressing, and to provide more helpful advice.

“The Accelerant Detection dogs, Charlie and Nelson, attend suspicious fires to determine whether or not a flammable liquid has been used to start it. They have proved to be an invaluable asset in the fight against arson, a crime which costs the British public £2.2 billion a year” added Sub Officer Richard Gibbons.

Importantly for the pupils, the afternoon will provide many opportunities for them to work collaboratively together and take time to consider how one person’s actions may adversely or positively influence others.
“Antisocial behaviour is a concern for all members of the community within Penwith and sometimes it is linked to young people. The ideas behind these workshops at the school are to educate and re-educate young people with regards to anti-social behaviour and to get them to appreciate the thoughts and feelings of others within the community” PC Luke Cox, Penwith Youth Intervention Officer