FORECASTERS are predicting a hotter-than-normal summer and more heatwaves which could bring dry ground conditions and a higher wildfire risk. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has launched a new Rural Plan to help communities stay safe and make sure help can reach them quickly when it’s needed most.
As firefighters prepare for the months ahead, people in rural communities are being encouraged to take simple steps to stay safe, including using tools such as the mobile app What3Words to help emergency services find them quickly when every second counts.
What3words is a free smartphone app that pinpoints your exact location quickly. Emergency services across the UK use it to find people in rural areas and even in the water as the app has broken down the world into 3m x 3m areas to help pinpoint people’s exact location.
Search what3words in your phone’s app store to download it…you could end up using it this summer if you need to report a rural fire.
Last year alone, firefighters attended 1,194 grassland, woodland and crop fires across Essex, compared with 832 the previous year.
Firefighters respond to a wide range of incidents across rural Essex, including wildfires, flooding, road traffic collisions and fires affecting homes, farms and businesses, where distance, terrain and access can make it harder to reach people quickly.
Around 72 per cent of Essex is rural, home to 350,000 residents, 22,500 businesses and 250,000 hectares of farmland.
The new Rural Plan sets out how Essex County Fire and Rescue Service will work with communities, farmers, landowners, businesses and local partners to reduce risk, help people stay safe and strengthen emergency response across rural Essex.
As part of the plan, firefighters are encouraging people in rural communities to understand local risks, reduce the chances of emergencies and be ready if they do occur.
In rural areas, postcodes, landmarks and road names are not always easy to identify.
People living, working and visiting rural Essex are being encouraged to:
- Be ready to share their exact location in an emergency, including using tools such as What3Words to help firefighters reach incidents faster
- Understand the risks where they live, work or visit and seek advice and support to manage those risks
- Take practical steps to reduce risk, including checking smoke alarms regularly and booking a free Home Fire Safety Visit if needed
Area Manager Dan Partridge said: “As someone who lives in a rural area, I understand both the strengths of these communities and the challenges they can face.
“These communities are a vital part of Essex, but when something goes wrong, the challenges can be very different from those in urban areas.
“Whether it’s a wildfire, flooding, a serious collision or a fire affecting a home, farm or business, incidents in rural areas can be harder to reach and resolve.
“Something as simple as being able to tell us exactly where you are can make a real difference to our response, particularly in places where postcodes, landmarks or road names are not always easy to identify.
“But this plan goes beyond location. It’s about helping people understand risk, take practical steps to stay safe and be ready when the unexpected happens.
“Ultimately, it’s about helping people prepare for emergencies and protect what matters most.”
The Rural Plan will:
- Help people better understand local risks and prepare for emergencies with direct engagement with communities
- Increase prevention activity, including Home Fire Safety Visits and targeted business engagement, to reduce incidents before they happen
- Strengthen emergency response in rural areas
- Work more closely with communities, farmers, businesses and local partners, including local authorities
Under the Rural Plan, there will be additional support and advice for vulnerable and isolated residents, helping communities better prepare for risks such as wildfire, flooding and severe weather.
The plan was launched in Saffron Walden, where firefighters and staff met residents at a community roadshow alongside Joel Charles, Deputy Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, to share advice on fire safety, road safety, water safety and being ready for emergencies, while promoting free Home Fire Safety Visits.
To find out more about the Rural Plan or book a free Home Fire Safety Visit, search Essex Home Fire Safety Visits online, call 0300 303 0088 (9.30am–4pm, or leave a message out of hours) or email [email protected]
