North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Philip Allott has today opened a three-month consultation seeking views on what the priorities should be for the police and fire services.
Mr Allott, who was elected commissioner in May, said the responses would inform his Police and Crime Plan, and Fire and Rescue Plan for 2021-2024.
Mr Allott, who lives in Knaresborough, will go on a 16-stop tour of North Yorkshire and York to canvas views. Online surveys and focus groups will also feed into the survey.
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He said:
“These documents which we need to produce by law have long titles and complex requirements, but they are all about one thing – your safety, which is why I want to know your priorities to ensure they are your plans.
“Please get involved in this consultation and have your say. I promise it will be listened to.”
The Police and Crime Plan sets out the vision and priorities for North Yorkshire Police, community safety and victims’ rights, as well as the objectives and ambitions that the Chief Constable will be held to account against.
The Fire and Rescue Plan sets out the strategic vision, priorities and objectives for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for how it will better respond to the need of our communities.
Further details of the consultation and the draft plans are available at www.tellphilip.co.uk.
Harrogate district TV and radio coverage disrupted by mast fireA fire at a transmitter in North Yorkshire is affecting television and radio coverage in the Harrogate district.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue were called to Bilsdale mast near Helmsley this afternoon after reports of smoke coming from the area.
Readers of the Stray Ferret have got in touch to report that the issue has affected television coverage in the Bilton area and north of the district.
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North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue service said six appliances and two water bowsers were in attendance at the fire this afternoon.
A spokesperson for the service said:
Firefighters rescue teens from Harrogate school roof“Crews are working hard to control the fire in difficult circumstances – it is unclear at this time if any of the centres transmitting capability has been affected or the cause of the fire which will be investigated in due course.
“NYFRS ask that members of the public do not go near to the site, particularly as this area has limited access and we need to be able to move vehicles and people around to help fight the fire.”
Firefighters rescued four teenagers who had climbed onto the roof of a school in Harrogate.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service took a call for help at a building on Wetherby Road just after 6pm yesterday.
The group had made their way up to the roof of the school but when it came to climbing back down, the teenagers got into some difficulty.
When the crews arrived they used a ladder to get them to safety.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said after the incident:
“Crews assisted four teenagers that had climbed onto the roof of a school and then were unable to get down. Crew used a ladder.”
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Lorry fire causes morning delays on A1 (M)
One lane of the A1 (M) northbound between junctions 44 and 45 remains closed following a serious lorry fire this morning.
The lorry, which was carrying milk, caught fire shortly after 3am this morning, causing rush hour delays of 40 minutes.
Firefighters from Tadcaster were called to the scene near Boston Spa, where the milk cartons had spilled on the highway.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service‘s incident summary stated:
“The lorry was engulfed in flames on their arrival and was extinguished by fire crews using at least four hose reels and four breathing apparatus.
“No persons reported injured and cause for the fire not known at this time but believed to be vehicle related.”
The road reopened at about 7am but one lane remains closed and delays are still occurring, although the situation is improving.
Northbound traffic from before the M1 interchange is affected.
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A build up of dust is believed to have been responsible for a combine harvester fire in Harrogate last night.
Firefighters from Harrogate, Knaresborough and Boroughbridge were summoned to Kingsley Road to deal with the blaze at 7.30pm last night.
Wearing breathing apparatus and using thermal imaging cameras, they used doused the flames using mechanical foam.
Fortunately, the combine was slightly away from the standing crop.
In a separate incident at 2.20am this morning, firefighters from Ripon responded to reports of wheelie bins on fire outside a house on Priest Lane.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service’s incident summary said:
“The crews found the bins had been extinguished by a resident prior to their arrival and used the residents garden hose to dampen to the area.
“The cause is believed to have been accidental.”
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Commissioner chooses preferred chief fire officer candidate
North Yorkshire’s police, fire and crime commissioner has selected his preferred candidate to be interim chief fire officer.
Philip Allott has chosen Jon Foster, who is currently deputy chief fire officer for the county, for the position.
It follows current chief fire officer, Andrew Brodie, announcing his retirement from North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue this summer.
Mr Foster started his career at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service in 1983 as an on-call firefighter at Boroughbridge.
He pursued his ambition to join as a wholetime firefighter in 1994 and has since worked in a wide range of roles across the county, before being made deputy chief fire officer in September 2019.
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Mr Foster will be recommended to the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel to be approved for the role next month.
Mr Allott said:
“Our communities are some of the safest places to live in the country and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service plays a hugely important role in ensuring that continues. It was important to select the best person to lead the team, and I am delighted to recommend Jon Foster for that role over the next 12 months.
“As the current deputy chief fire officer, and having worked within the service for the past 38 years, Jon is someone who knows North Yorkshire and York inside out. He has the respect of colleagues and the commitment to continue the work to create an even stronger and sustainable service.
“Resources are always constrained, but I was impressed by Jon’s commitment to innovation in response and preventative practices, and his desire to ensure we have an emergency service which reflects the communities they serve.
“Subject to the panel’s approval of Jon’s suitability at their confirmation hearing, I look forward to working with him to deliver a modern, reactive and respected organisation that protects people and property, and saves lives.”
Mr Foster said:
“I am delighted to be afforded the opportunity to serve the public of North Yorkshire as interim chief fire officer.
“I started my fire service career in 1983 at Boroughbridge as a retained firefighter and feel immensely privileged to be the preferred candidate to lead the service about which I am passionate. I look forward to addressing the panel later this month. With their approval, I will look forward to working alongside the commissioner to deliver a high-quality service to the public.”
If approved by the panel, Mr Foster will take up the role on July 22.
Firefighters battle outbuildings blaze near FollifootFirefighters battled a blaze at a group of outbuildings near Follifoot this afternoon.
Six crews were called out for the fire on Haggs Road at 2.15pm and had managed to put it out by around 6pm today.
The firefighters were from stations in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Ripon, Tadcaster and Acomb.
Fire investigators are still on scene trying to put the picture together of how the blaze took hold.
The crews found that a skip filled with cylinders had caught fire, which then spread to nearby buildings.
The Stray Ferret has asked North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue for more information, but we have received no reply by the time of writing.
It’s currently unclear what caused the fire or if anybody was injured.
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Fire crews tackle house fire in North Rigton
Fire crews were called out to tackle a house fire in North Rigton this morning.
Firefighters were called to the property on Church Hill just before 7am. Two crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough tackled the blaze.
Tony Peel, station manager at North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, said crews found the ground floor of the house on fire.
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He said:
“Two crews were mobilised from Harrogate and Knaresborough.
“On arrival they found the ground floor of a semi-detached property well alight. Everybody was out of the property at the time.
“Crews deployed into the property have extinguished the fire.”
An investigation into the fire is ongoing.
Fire crews battle two deliberate blazes in Knaresborough woodsFire crews were summoned twice in half an hour last night to two deliberate fires in the woods in Knaresborough.
The callouts were part of a busy night in the Harrogate district for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, which also attended two incidents in Harrogate.
The first woodland fire occurred at 6.55pm when bracken and tree branches were set alight at the bottom of Nidd Bank cul-de-sac, close to the River Nidd.
Less than half an hour later more branches were set ablaze on the other side of the river, opposite Conyngham Hall.
A crew from Knaresborough extinguished both fires using water backpacks.
A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue said:
“We can’t say for certain but it looks like the two fires were caused deliberately.”
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Crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough were then called to reports of a dishwasher emitting sparks in Rutland Road, Harrogate shortly after 11pm.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue’s incident summary says:
“The occupier of the property used a dry powder extinguisher before fire crews arrived.
“Crews disconnected the appliance from the mains and checked it over as well as giving advice. They used a thermal imaging camera only.
“The cause is believed to be an electrical fault.”
At 2.39am this morning, two crews from Harrogate and Knaresborough attended a small bag of rubbish set on fire in flats on Robert Street. A security guard had put out the flames by the time they arrived.
Police were also called to the scene.
Fire service investigates cause of Starbeck home blazeThe fire service has launched an investigation into the cause of a blaze which devastated a house in Starbeck last night.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue, North Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service attended the fire on Avenue Grove at around 8pm.
When crews arrived they found that the fire started in a bedroom on the first floor but had quickly spread to much of the first floor. Nobody was in the house on arrival.
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It also caused smoke damage to the ground floor and neighbouring homes. Two people required treatment for smoke inhilation.
The homeowner told the Stray Ferret last night that the fire started in her son’s bedroom while she was downstairs celebrating her birthday. She said she did not know what caused the fire.
Crews used breathing apparatus, three hose reel jets, 45mm jet, delta lance, triple extension ladder, lighting and thermal imaging camera to put out the fire.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue attended last night.
They evacuated neighbouring properties, cordoned off the area and advised people to avoid the area while they were dealing with the incident.
Now North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has confirmed that it is investigating the cause of the fire.
Neville Scott, red watch manager at Harrogate fire station, told the Stray Ferret last night that:
“It had the potential to be a very serious incident and spread to other properties because it was a terraced house.
“But the firefighters were able to prevent that.”
The home had a smoke alarm and the fire service said it was a reminder of how important it is to have a working fire alarm in all homes.