Date: 17th April, 2018
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service has received a US$9,173 fire prevention grant from FM Global, one of the world’s largest commercial property insurers.
The money – £6.584.12 sterling – will support the training of new firesetter intervention advisers within the Prevention team.
Because fire continues to be the leading cause of property damage worldwide, during the past 40 years FM Global has contributed millions of dollars in fire prevention grants to fire service organisations around the globe.
Michael Spaziani, assistant vice president and manager of the fire prevention grant programme at FM Global said: “We strongly believe that the majority of property damage is preventable, not inevitable. Far too often, inadequate budgets prevent those organisations working to prevent fire from being as proactive as they would like to be. With additional financial support, grant recipients are actively helping to improve property risk in the communities they serve.”
Deliberate Firesetting/Arson Reduction Coordinator Gaynor Mant applied for the funding and said: “I am extremely pleased and excited that we will be able to increase the number of our firesetter intervention advisers and give them the right training to carry out this valuable work with children who find fire fascinating.”
Firesetter intervention advisers provide one-to-one support for young people whose interest in fire carries potential risk. Referrals come from many different sources, such as concerned parents, school staff, and other agencies such as Youth Offending Teams. More information can be found at www.dwfire.org.uk/firesetters
The grant was officially presented to the Service at Hamworthy fire station on 12 April. Barney Weston, Engineering Specialist London Operations for FM Global, handed the cheque and a commemorative plaque to Chief Fire Officer Ben Ansell, Head of Prevention Seth Why and Gaynor.
For more about FM Global’s Fire Prevention Grant Programme and other resources for the fire service, visit www.fmglobal.com/fireservice