//8ffd32865f9a6d98d669f3668e6af33d496d3def.jpg "District Commander Martin Langan")
The people of Wakefield can be assured that we are making the district a safer place to live and work.
We have set out plans to prioritise our services in the community over the coming year and we would encourage you to take a look at these plans in detail.
Wakefield Risk Reduction Plan 2013-14 and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Action Plan for 2013-14
Our priorities for the district have been identified in a climate of stringent financial constraint and are based on a risk assessment that will ensure we maintain the safety of the public and our staff. Our priorities are:
- to deliver a proactive fire prevention and protection programme
- to deliver a professional and resilient emergency response service
- to provide a safe, competent and diverse workforce
- to provide effective and ethical governance and achieve value for money in managing resources.
Whats happening in Wakefield district...
To give you an insight to how we work within your area:
A District Command Team consisting of the District Commander an Assistant District Commander who has responsibility for operational matters and training and an Assistant District Manager with responsibility for Community Safety along with several teams based at the District HQ at Wakefield fire station are tasked with providing an operational fire service that works with the community to reduce the risk from fire, whether this be in the home, workplace or the wider community.
These teams are:
- Arson Task Force
- Community Fire Safety and
- Fire Protection.
To assist us with our aim of reducing the incidence of fire, we have developed several partnerships with other agencies including:
- Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, Family Services
- The Mental Health Rapid Access Scheme
- Wakefield District Housing
- Wakefield District Community Healthcare
- Wakefield Society for Deaf People
- Victim Support
WYFRS New Fire Station at Pontefract and Normanton
Work has begun on a £2m project for the replacement of Pontefract and Knottingley fire stations.
The complex in Bondgate Pontefract has excellent access to key road networks and will secure fire cover in the area into the foreseeable future.
The first sod was cut on Wednesday 9th March getting construction work underway.
The merger of Pontefract and Knottingley into a better located, state of the art building had first been mooted back in 2006 to underpin a major revamp of fire cover across the Five Towns.
The Five Towns project as a whole had been frustrated by difficulties with land acquisition and other technical issues but now the scheme is coming to fruition. It represents a vital commitment to the communities of Knottingley and Pontefract.
The scheme will incorporate highway improvements and a steel frame training tower for rescue exercises.
The station will be built of high performance materials and to rigorous environmental standards. A rainwater harvesting and reuse system will be installed to collect rainwater for use in the station’s toilets. Solar panels will provide domestic hot water.
The complex will accommodate two fire engines and feature a gym, recreational area, meeting rooms and administrative offices.
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Steve Beckley, the brigade’s Director of Operations, said the new station would occupy a critical strategic location, enabling firefighters to provide a quick emergency response across the area.
The new building at Pontefract will be completed by early 2012.
//fd1fbc77aa28a97e9fd3d4f124eba26d8073808e.jpg "Wide view of Wakefield Cathedral")
//8a5a7846d667dddf560c38dfc6e25af8ee579d9c.jpg "External view of Castleford fire station")
//f1173e11d3fb3788182dc128222101c82b2ab8e1.jpg "External view of Featherstone fire station")
//f3835b261476b34ba6eb6ec20efb780ec7f39dfe.jpg "External view of Hemsworth fire station")
//2d2a355beadf8a964418cf7ad9f7e711244af655.jpg "Normanton Fire Station")
//5aba18e32d4d32f24f9a6ed97b5646ca57189321.jpg "External view of Ossett Fire Station")
//a062679a8b555104a216656ddf864e8ec55a7cc9.jpg "External view of South Elmsall fire station")
//448db6e76ee166f8a1e76ed713ea387075ae243b.jpg "External view of Wakefield fire station")
//a3b1636c9ca46f04f53038f41d64e149fa038474.jpg "Pontefract Fire Station")
