Warwickshire residents can still give their views on the future of the county's fire service

The public consultation has been running since the start of July and gives residents a chance to help influence the way the service will work over the next five years.

They are being asked to answer seven questions on the draft Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) Prevention, Protection and Response Strategy.

The consultation will close on September 25.

WFRS has 17 fire stations across the 764 square miles of Warwickshire and employs around 450 staff.

Its work in 2020/21 included attending around 3,500 incidents, taking steps to protect over 1,000 buildings and carrying out 1,500 hospital-to-home collections for the county’s most vulnerable residents.

Emergency response is now a smaller proportion of the work done by WFRS, who instead have an increased emphasis on prevention, protection and community support.

Responses to the consultation will be used to inform the final strategy that will set out the future direction of WFRS.

Warwickshire County Council portfolio holder Andy Crump said: “We have plans to take bold and radical action to support our communities to be safe, to support and sustain economic growth and business prosperity, to keep transport networks moving and to enable the most vulnerable to live safely.

"But we do all of this for you - our residents, businesses and visitors – so we are really keen to get your feedback. Please do take some time to read our plans and tell us what you think.”

Chief Fire Officer Ben Brook added: “Our Strategy sets out how the Service will embrace opportunities for technological advances, reduce our impact on the environment and above all, be led by our ethics and values.

"As an employer, we are also making the wellbeing of our staff a key priority and ensure that we have a workforce that reflects the makeup of our communities.

"So I would like to hear what you think, whether it is positive or negative, so that we can together make Warwickshire a safer place to be.”

To take part in the consultation go to: http://ask.warwickshire.gov.uk