Derbyshire firefighters reflect on busy year with more than 6,000 incidents

Firefighters reflected on the Toddbrook Reservoir dam incident as they looked back on a busy year.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service has published its yearly report, a document celebrating the service’s key achievements from the last financial year.

The report shares a whole host of facts and figures about the service’s efforts – including that 97 per cent of emergency calls were answered within seven seconds.

Figures also show the first pumps arrived at 86 per cent of life-risk fires within ten minutes of being mobilised.

Derbyshire’s chief fire officer and chief executive Gavin Tomlinson said: “2019/2020 was an incredibly busy year for the service.

"We responded to more than 6,000 incidents, with more than 755 members of staff committed to responding to just one of those – the potential breach of Toddbrook Reservoir Dam at Whaley Bridge."

The incident cost the service £455,000, saw 6,500 residents evacuated and required the use of 259 fire service vehicles.

Meanwhile, 600 road traffic collisions were attended across the county, with 13 people killed and a further 120 seriously injured.

There were 100 water rescues – many resulting from storms Ciara, Dennis and Jorge.

This year saw the lowest recorded number of accidental house fires, with a total of 350 incidents, and the data also shows that the service was called out to 2,400 false alarms over the period.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service had to adapt to new working conditions as the coronavirus pandemic took hold and the lockdown was implemented.

Mr Tomlinson added: "Sadly the impact of the Covid pandemic had a direct impact on engagement activity in March.

“But the service adapted and found new and innovative ways of continuing to ensure the safety of those most at risk of fire.

"Our employees carried out more than 16,000 direct engagements and delivered 13,000 safe and well checks targeting the most vulnerable members of our community, working to keep them safe and prevent emergency incidents in their homes.”

Fire safety education talks were also delivered to 18,000 children and young driver’s education to 964 students.