“Maintaining Schools for the Future - a fire safety approach” will be the title of his talk at the FIre and Rescue-UK show at Harrogate on June 29 and 30th.
It will cover a recent history of the action taken by BLFRS to reduce risk to life and property on school grounds.
In July 2008 a project group was set up by BLFRS, Beds Police and three local authorities to encourage the use of official fire risk BB100 toolkit in existing schools.
BLFRS produced a risk rating for schools, ran free seminars for head teachers and governors, used results for a risk based audit programme under Fire Safety Order and then targeted the highest risk schools via the School Crime and Arson Risk Evaluation (SCARE) project.
More than 250 schools were categorised as low, medium and high risk - and recommendations regarding sprinklers and other measures were made.
Long standing initiatives such as site agent training, fire risk assessment, fire safety consultation, meetings with Local Education Authority (LEA) and Health and Safety, education via Arson About and special play with Biddenham Upper School were continued.
Result 75% reduction in school fires compared to 2003 - deliberate, accidental and small fires.