Serious concerns over whether fire service can keep people safe

THERE are serious concerns about whether South Wales Fire and Rescue Service can keep people safe, an independent report has found.

- RUTH MOSALSKI

The most at-risk are not always prioritised, it was found, and members of the public, including vulnerable people, may not be getting the support they need.

The chief inspector of fire and rescue services has found a range of issues in the force - from planning to personnel, and risks to both staff and the public.

The inspector found checks have been made at just 4.9% of the most high-risk premises in its area.

Examples include a hotel that had not been inspected for risks in 10 years, and a care home which had been operating for five years without any inspection.

The service hadn't carried out any fire safety activity in relation to industrial premises where someone had previously died in a fire.

In January 2024, there was an independent review of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, which was damning in its findings of sexism and misogyny.

The Welsh Government then removed the elected members of the board and appointed four commissioners.

In July they asked for a full review by HM Chief Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services.

In the report published on May 22, inspector Roy Wilsher said: “Sadly I have concerns about the service's performance in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks.

“In particular I have concerns about the effectiveness of its strategies for making sure its activities consistently identify, prioritise, and mitigate risks for the public.

“I am also concerned that it doesn’t have effective systems and processes in place to gather and record relevant and up-to-date risk information to help protect firefighters, the public, and property during emergencies.”

He has therefore taken the step of reporting a number of “causes for concern” which comes if it is determined there is a “serious, critical, or systemic shortcoming in a service's practice, policy or performance”.

The review was tasked with looking at: