Unemployed young people are being recruited to boost fire safety in high rise tower blocks in Edinburgh.

In a joint scheme between Edinburgh Council and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, 15 trainees will be taken off unemployment benefit over the next year to work as trainee concierge staff, with a specific brief of improving fire safety in tower blocks across the city.
 

Trainee concierge with community firefighter

A Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson told Info4Fire that the trainees will help residents spot fire safety hazards such as discarded furniture, overloaded sockets and clothing being dried over heaters. They will also encourage residents to take up home visits from fire safety officers and will accompany them on such visits.

The trainees initially receive one day of fire safety awareness training, but would also learn by accompanying officers on their visits.

“This is a fantastic way of ensuring that we spread the word about the availability of free homes safety visits and smoke alarms to residents,” said community firefighter John Dickey of Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service. “We want to do everything we can to make people safer from the risk of fire in their homes.

“The trainee concierges will be in a position to build relationships with those living in high rises and talk to them about how to reduce the risk. We will be involved in training staff in basic fire safety, particularly how they can contribute to tenant and firefighter safety.”

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