From a tour of London Southend Airport to water rescue training in Old Leigh, Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive Rick Hylton spent the day seeing frontline work in action across Southend, Rochford and Leigh.
He spent time with firefighters, joined crews for breathing apparatus training and spoke with community leaders as part of the Service’s first Command Insight Day. In Westcliff, he visited a mosque to discuss prevention work and community safety across the Southend area.
Discussions focused on how to help more people stay safe at home, including home fire safety visits and smoke alarm installations, as well as reaching more communities with safety advice.
Visits to fire stations and encouraging more people to consider a career in the fire service were discussed during the meeting.
In Old Leigh, specialist crews from Leigh and Rochford carried out a water rescue exercise on the Thames Estuary, demonstrating the precision and co-ordination required to respond in challenging conditions.
At London Southend Airport, he spent time with fire crews on site, seeing how they support safe day-to-day operations and work in partnership with Essex County Fire and Rescue Service.
Rick also spent time at Rochford and Leigh fire stations, speaking with crews about local risks and developments, before joining firefighters from Southend, Rochford and Shoeburyness for breathing apparatus training at Southend Fire Station.
Rick Hylton said: “Across Southend, Rochford and Leigh – and right across Essex – you can see the work our crews carry out every day to keep people safe.
“Spending time with crews and communities brings that to life – whether that’s in the community, taking part in exercises out on the water in Leigh or breathing apparatus training together.
“There’s a strong sense of teamwork and professionalism across crews, particularly in the way wholetime and on-call firefighters work seamlessly together as we serve our communities every day.”
South East Group Commander Dave Walpole said: “I’m really proud of the work our crews, staff and volunteers do day in, day out to keep our communities safe in Southend and across Essex. “Getting out and spending time in our communities really matters – it’s about listening, providing reassurance, and making sure we understand the needs and concerns of the people we serve.”
Iftikhar Ul Haq, Imam, UKIM Southend Mosque, added: “We were very pleased to welcome Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton and Group Commander Dave Walpole and to have the opportunity to talk about the work being done to keep people safe in the community. “We discussed the importance of prevention, particularly in the home, and how information and support can reach as many people as possible.
“Working together in this way helps make it easier for people to access the advice and support available to them. “Human safety and saving lives are core teachings of the Islamic faith, and the role of the fire service is highly appreciated by Muslim communities across the country.”
