An open letter from Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton: “Let’s keep each other safe this summer”
Dear residents and communities of Essex
Last year I wrote an open letter to our colleagues at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service thanking them for their commitment and dedication to making Essex communities safe.
This year I think it’s important to write directly to you.
The heatwave of summer 2022 was like nothing we’d seen before. In July and August we received more than double the average 999 calls and attended 5,000 incidents - around twice as many as the same time the previous year.
It’s important to recognise when demand for our service increases, sacrifices follow. That might mean our people going above and beyond during their shift, working more hours, being away from their primary employment as an on-call colleague – or quite simply being more tired, seeing less of their loved ones and changing family plans.
It also means more instances of our firefighters putting themselves in challenging situations. Remember, when people are running away from danger, we are running towards it and while we have a large number of resources committed at one incident, it may mean we do not have the same level of resources to send to other incidents.
Our people are our Service, and their dedication to serving you is unmatched. They are always eager to demonstrate their commitment, but I would never take this for granted.
Taking our learning from last year, we are already beginning our preparations and it is for this reason that I am writing to you all, to ask for your help and support.
How you can help us
We’re always here for you. If you find yourself in an emergency you can dial 999 and ask for the fire service and we will be there. There’s no question about that.
But there’s so much our communities can do to help themselves and help us. So many incidents are preventable. If we can reduce these it gives us more availability to attend other emergencies.
Outdoor fires can cause devastation to the environment, wildlife and lives. They take a lot of our resources too. When it’s really hot and dry bonfires and barbecues must be put on hold until it’s safe. I know it is a sacrifice but it will really help reduce the number of incidents. It’s also so important to extinguish cigarettes properly and take all your rubbish home with you.
If you’re exploring our beautiful county by road please slow down and make sure you are not driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
Last year we tragically lost 21-year old Sujal Sahu in our waters when he and friends got into difficulties. Whenever you are around water: stop and think - look for the dangers, always read the signs and never swim alone.
And finally, I make a plea to anyone responsible for children to chat to them about the dangers of fire and water. If we all understand risk and actions, we can take then Essex becomes a safer place to live, work and travel.
Final word
Please continue to look after each other. Some changes in behaviour might feel inconvenient but if they keep you, your community and where you live safer, then it’s got to be worth it.
If you want to stay up to date with all our relevant advice or want to join our amazing Service in the future, search for us on social media or visit our website.
Be kind to each other. Look out for each other. And have a wonderful summer. We hope to see you at your local fire station open day soon.
Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service