Our firefighting colleagues bring Staffordshire more gold

Staffordshire has yet more medal winners to be proud of after a stunning series of successes at the World Firefighter Games.

Team Staffordshire picked up an amazing 11 golds, six silvers and four bronzes at the games, which finished last week.

Over 4,000 firefighters from around the world took part in the events, which were held in Merseyside.

As many people know I spent 28 years as a firefighter in Staffordshire, and I know the standard of the individuals in the service. The qualities that make a good firefighter - dedication, determination, courage and a high level of physical fitness - also makes good athletes.

At the county council we are particularly proud of our links with Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service. I am a serving member of the Staffordshire Fire Authority. Chairman of the authority is my fellow county councillor Derek Davis, while in total the county council provides 19 members of the authority, the remainder of the 25 coming from Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

We work closely with the service on many levels. This includes emergency planning both at tactical and operational levels - only this weekend our highway crews were working closely with firefighters, especially around Tamworth and Lichfield, dealing with flooded roads and protecting homes from flood water.

There is also the work we do safeguarding vulnerable people from the risk of fire, with our Social Care staff identifying individuals to be supplied with hi-tech fire warning devices and alarms. Firefighters also work with young people to provide training and mentoring.

My congratulations not only go to those Staffordshire firefighters who won medals, including Ruth Watchorn-Rice, Robin Smith, Jacqui Slack, Jim Cook and Steve Turner, but all those who took part.

Page Last Modified: 09/09/2008 09:34:38

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