Fire officer’s work sets UK’s environmental agenda (Contributed)

THE work of an Oxfordshire Fire officer on reducing environmental damage during incidents and training exercises, is set to benefit firefighters across the UK and beyond.
David Hanlon wrote a 400-page manual on the subject and organised a national conference at the Reebok Staduim in Bolton recently where 20 speakers gave presentations based on his work.

The manual, which tackles issues including how to avoid pollution of surface and groundwater supplies when tackling fires and chemical incidents, will now form the template for Fire and Rescue Services and environment agencies’ plans to prevent pollution caused by or during emergency incidents.

Great feedback

David, who is Technical Services Manager, was asked to write the manual by the Chief Fire Advisory Unit after submitting his masters degree dissertation to the Government.

He said: “The conference went really well and it’s extremely rewarding to see your work recognised on the national stage like this.

“The feedback was excellent and the whole thing has transformed what started out as an academic exercise into something that could have a really positive impact on the environment.”

Huge benefit

Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety Judy Heathcoat added: “There’s no doubt that David’s work will be a huge benefit to fire services across the UK.

“We always want our Fire and Rescue Service to be involved at the forefront of national progress, and David is a great example of that agenda-setting mentality.”

Photo: (left to right): Event organiser Kirsty Goodgame, Watch Manager and IT Technician Andy Ford (Thame), Finance Officer Hazel Dyer, Event Co-ordinator and author of FRS Manual Environmental Protection David Hanlon, Event Assistant Matt Carlile