Mayor of Ipswich visits fire service to learn more about community safety

Councillor Stefan Long, Mayor of Ipswich, spent a day with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) on Tuesday 20 January, to gain a deeper understanding of its prevention, protection, operational and training activities across the county.

The visit followed an initial conversation between the Mayor and members of SFRS’s Prevention Team at a Care Fayre in Kesgrave last year. After hearing about the extent of community safety work carried out across the organisation, Councillor Long expressed a keen interest in learning more.

As a result, Chief Fire Officer Jon Lacey invited him to spend a day with the Service.

Councillor Long began the day at SFRS Headquarters at Endeavour House on Russell Road, Ipswich, where he was welcomed by Deputy Chief Fire Officer Henry Griffin and given an overview of the Service’s strategic work.

He then visited Princes Street Fire Station, meeting Group Manager Lee Wilkins, Temporary Station Manager Ann Hurst, and other members of the Protection and Prevention teams to hear about their efforts to keep Suffolk residents safe in their workplaces and homes.

The Mayor also toured the station, where he met the on-duty crew and learned more about the operational response capabilities that support communities across Ipswich and beyond.

The visit continued at the SFRS Control Centre at Beacon House, where Station Manager Georgina Trownson introduced the Mayor to the team responsible for handling emergency calls and coordinating fire and rescue responses across the county.

In the afternoon, Councillor Long travelled to Wattisham Training Centre, where Group Manager Dale Nunn provided a tour of the Service’s specialist training facilities used by firefighters to develop and maintain essential skills.

Commenting on the visit, Councillor Long said: “It was a privilege to spend the day with Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service and see first-hand the dedication, professionalism and community spirit that runs through every part of the organisation.”

He continued: “The breadth of work carried out across the Service plays a vital role in keeping people safe, and I appreciated gaining a deeper understanding of the commitment shown throughout the organisation to serving our county.”

Chief Fire Officer Jon Lacey said: “We were delighted to welcome the Mayor and provide an insight into the broad range of work our teams undertake every day. From prevention and protection to emergency response and training, our staff are committed to keeping Suffolk safe, and it’s always valuable to share that work with our civic leaders.”