Fire TV launched - www.firetv.org.uk

On Tuesday 22 May Avon Fire & Rescue Service launched two new safety initiatives at the International Fire Expo 2007 at the NEC in Birmingham. Set to turn heads and take the service’s community safety strategy to a new level, these two initiatives take a fresh approach to engaging with the community.

AF&RS’s new Internet TV site, FireTV, is hoped to become a key method for the service to connect with technology friendly audiences of all ages. FireTV, which can be found at www.firetv.org.uk, is a fun, visual and interactive site that provides the viewer with a number of zones to explore.

From learning more about the service and life as a firefighter to recruitment and safety films, FireTV should appeal to a wide range of people. Not only this, but similar to other popular film websites, visitors will be able to upload their own films as part of on-going competitions run on the site - with issues such as the danger of hoax calls and anti-social behaviour to firefighters being explored by the very people who may be involved.

The ‘Live’ zone of FireTV also provides the facility to air ‘Warn and Inform’ messages to the public, and live incident footage, if a major incident were to happen.

At present FireTV is Avon based, but it is hoped that fire and rescue services across the country will link up and partner Avon to provide a national FireTV to the UK public.

Alongside FireTV, Avon F&RS will also unveil its Hot Air Balloon at Fire Expo 2007. This is the first ever fire and rescue service Hot Air Balloon, which Avon F&RS aims to use as a marketing tool to promote safety messages to a captivated and targeted audience.

Cllr Shaun McGall is a member of Avon Fire Authority. Avon F&RS has a legal duty to promote a safer environment for our community via initiatives and we need to continually think of new and ‘modern’ ways in which to do this. The Authority is proud to be leading the way among fire and rescue services. Both FireTV and AF&RS’s hot air balloon are entirely new concepts and we look forward to seeing the results.

With digital media is becoming ever more important when it comes to reaching teenagers, one of the key targets, and Avon F&RS believes FireTV will be crucial in educating young people about issues such as the dangers of hoax calls and dangerous driving.

Hot Air Balloons have proven to be successful in delivering messages and raising brand awareness with the public - you don’t need to open a magazine or newspaper, turn on the TV or radio, or even log on. Everyone is mesmerised by balloons and will stop to watch their flight - even taking pictures of them. What better way to promote key messages such as ‘smoke alarms save lives’ and ‘hoax calls cost lives’.

With the facility to change its safety banner message, Avon F&RS’s Hot Air Balloon will fly at local events, such as the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, and at other times to promote seasonal messages and topical ones in response to incident trends that the service may be experiencing.