Release date: 4 December 2024
Data presented to West Sussex County Council’s Fire and Rescue Scrutiny Committee has revealed that 37% of electric blankets tested by West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service failed the safety test.
In October the fire service tested 286 electric blankets owned by members of the public, and 105 were safely disposed of after being considered unsafe or faulty.
This data was presented in an update from the Deputy Chief Fire Officer on the service’s progress against its current Community Risk Management Plan.
The service is now preparing its next Community Risk Management Plan 2026 - 2030, and residents have until 15 December to take part in the short questionnaire.
During the Scrutiny Committee meeting, the Chief Fire Officer also provided an update on HMICFRS’s latest inspection report which rated the service as ‘good’ or ‘adequate’ in all areas, and the work already being done to address the areas of improvement.
Other items on the Scrutiny Committee agenda included:
- Fire and Rescue Service Strategic Performance Report Quarter 2
- Performance and Resources Report - Quarter 2 2024/25
- Council Plan and Draft Budget Proposals 2025/26
When reviewing the Strategic Performance Report, the service was praised for beating its record, previously set in Q1, for the highest number of Safe and Well Visits in a single quarter. The service delivered 1,679 visits between July and September 2024.
You can watch the meeting back here: https://westsussex.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/926862
