FIRE crews from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service attended nearly 12,500 incidents - but there were fewer injuries and deaths from accidental and preventable fires and the service is working hard to prevent future incidents.

Unfortunately six people lost their lives - five of these were a result of fires which were started accidentally.

This information is published in the services first annual report, which was on the agenda at Dorset County Council’s cabinet meeting this on Wednesday.

The emergency response standard focuses on life risk, which for sleeping risks, mean they aim to arrive within 10 minutes for the first fire engine, and 13 for the second one. This was achieved in 71.6 per cent and 65.7 per cent of cases respectively.

The service says it is looking to create a stronger, more financially stable fire and rescue service, putting as much money in the frontline as they can.

They also aim to maximise the usage of buildings and minimise their running costs and be more cost-effective by working more closely with other emergency services and local authorities and reducing their carbon footprint.

The report states: “Moving forward, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue will continue to focus on ensuring they contribute towards wider health outcomes, to have a pro-active approach to providing business support and education, through further strengthening their training to help identify safeguarding concerns and review all aspects to identify ways to improve efficiency and make their money go further to provide a better service.”

Targets have been set by the service in the following areas:

Making safer and healthier choices

Protecting people and the environment from harm

Being present when the service is needed

Making every penny count.

Over the past year the service reports there were fewer injuries and deaths from accidental and preventable fires, fewer road traffic collisions that result in injury and death, and less anti-social behaviour and arson

During the same period the fire service attended 2,474 incidents, of which 3,247 fires (including 919 deliberate), 771 accidental fires in the home, 359 fires in non-domestic buildings, 59 rescues from fires and 231 rescues from road collisions.