10 October 2007
A senior fire officer from West Yorkshire is helping a national inquiry into the summer floods.
Area Manager Paul Cummins, who is in charge of staff training and development at brigade HQ in Birkenshaw, will assist the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, Sir Ken Knight.
A report on the fire and rescue service’s response to the floods is expected to be on ministers’ desks by the end of the year.
“Paul is a very experienced officer and his involvement in this high-profile project reflects well on West Yorkshire’s standing on the national scene,” explained the county’s chief fire officer, Phil Toase.
Paul will report through Mr. Toase to Sir Ken.
“In addition to coping with some 390 flood-related incidents ourselves on 25 June, we also host the Fire and Rescue Service National Co-ordination Centre and mobilised specialist equipment and appliances to flooding across South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Humberside, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and the West Midlands at various times” said Mr. Toase.
“All the evidence seems to suggest that the fire service as a whole coped well but undoubtedly there are lessons to be learned so we are even better prepared for any future wide area flooding.”
The costs of Mr. Cummins’ secondment are being met by Communities and Local Government.
Paul lives in Horsforth and has been a firefighter for 23 years.
ENDS
For further details contact Stephen Hardy 01274 655717
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