Fire service launches web portal

A new £2.2m website has been launched to enable internet users to have easier access to fire safety resources.

As well as offering safety tips, the Fire Gateway allows users to access information on England's fire services.

It is hoped advice on the portal will help reduce accidental fire-related deaths in the home over the next three years by 20% and arson attacks by 10%.

Although the portal is a pan-England initiative, it has been led by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority.

'Valuable tool'

Area Commander Rhys Griffiths from Greater Manchester said: "This is the first time ever that there has been a single point of contact using the internet.

"It will allow people to find out information about the fire service, safety advice and order home fire risk assessments at the click of a button."

Barry Dixon, County Fire Officer for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, added: "The Fire Gateway will be a valuable tool for helping Fire and Rescue Services communicate more effectively and be even more accessible to their communities.

"While the emergency response side of the service must never be forgotten, a huge proportion of the work of modern Fire and Rescue Services is about prevention through education, partnership, advice and support."

The website, built by IT and business firm Parity, has been financed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).