West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service recently held an event to engage with a group of Mosques in Bradford as part of the Government’s Better Business for All Agenda (BBfA). The event was held with the aim of improving fire safety in Mosques and the objective of the night was to establish a dialogue so that further work can be continued.
Several aspects of fire safety were discussed and the management committee members who attended from the Mosques were provided with practical advice in terms of meeting legislative compliance in relation to the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005.
The event was well attended with over 16 representatives who were well briefed on the different strands of WYFRS – Protection, Prevention and Response.
WYFRS Business Support Supervisor Balvinder Bains, who had arranged the event, said:
“Promoting fire safety in places of worship is an area that greatly interests me.
“These institutions were initially managed by elders in our community who were doing valuable service at the time, but now they’re starting to offer all sorts of other activities such as fitness sessions, education classes and other events.
“With hosting these activities comes the additional risk and that’s where people sometimes can lack the expertise in preparing a risk assessment. Hopefully the efforts of my colleagues and I will go somewhat to filling that gap.”
Mr Bains said that younger committee members are coming on board in the Mosques and are eager to learn. He added: “I am confident that the next generation of caretakers will ensure that these institutions are kept safe and continue to play an important role in our communities”.
The event was held on the evening of February 17 at Bradford Fire Station, Leeds Road.