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Your March newsletter from West Midlands Fire Service


Your monthly newsletter from West Midlands Fire Service

Welcome to your March update! If it’s Shrove Tuesday, you’ve probably got pancakes to make - so we’ll be quick!

A pancake in a pan. Text below reads 'Watch what you heat'. The WMFS logo is above.

Pancake Day is a great excuse to use up tempting treats before Lent. If you're flipping, make sure your smoke alarms are working too!

 

Follow these year-round tips:

 

🥞 supervise children at all times in the kitchen

🥞 never leave cooking unattended

🥞 make sure the cooker's off before you tuck in

🥞 try not to make too much of a mess 😉

Graphic for Ash Wednesday featuring a white cross drawn in ashes, with the text 'Have a Blessed Ash Wednesday' and the logo of West Midlands Fire Service.

We are honoured!

It’s been a big month for our staff, with two prestigious awards.
 

🎖️ Watch Commander Shammi Rana is among the first recipients of the Humanitarian Medal. He was recognised for his rescue work in Morocco after the 2023 earthquake. Shammi, now newly retired, received his medal from His Majesty The King at Buckingham Palace.

 

Read more here: West Midlands firefighter awarded the Humanitarian Medal for international rescue work

 

Shammi stood in a line with King Charles pinning a medal to his chest. Both are in full uniform.

🔍🔥 Watch Commander Andrew Huckle (Fire Investigation and Prevention Section) was commended by the police for gathering key evidence in a murder case, securing a 29-year prison sentence.

 

Read more on our website: WMFS Fire Investigator recognised by Staffordshire Police for crucial evidence gathering in Stoke-on-Trent murder case

 

Watch Commander Huckle in full uniform stood in front of a logo of Staffordshire Police holding a certificate.

TV star!

📺 Curious about fire investigation? Follow our very own Watch Commander Luke Beckett in ‘Forensics: The Real CSI’ as he unpicks a devastating factory fire in the West Mids.

Watch now on BBC iPlayer
 

Coming up...

International Women's Day

A graphic with a purple background and text that reads 'Supporting International Women's Day'. The logo for International Women's Day is below, alongside two hashtags of #IAccellerateAction and #IWD2025
International Women’s Day – we’ll celebrate the vital role of women at an event at our HQ. Over a quarter of our staff are women, including 13 per cent of our firefighters - higher than most services, but we’re always aiming for more!

Clocks go forward soon! 

The clock tower in London that holds Big Ben

Why is changing the microwave clock always the hardest? What’s easy is registering your household gadgets in case of safety recalls. 

 

You can find links to the product registration pages of most major manufacturers on our website. Just visit Register your products

Or, take the opportunity to test your smoke alarm!

Eid al-Fitr approaches!

If you’re observing Ramadan, changes in routine can affect cooking safety. Please stay extra careful during iftar prep.

Make sure you:

 

🥘 never leave cooking unattended – if you have to step away, turn off the heat

🥘 keep your hob, oven and grill clean – built-up grease and fat can catch fire

🥘 don’t cook if you’re very tired, it’s easy to lose concentration

🥘 keep tea towels, cloths and paper towels away from the hob

🥘 Be extra careful when frying – never throw water on a pan fire! Turn off the heat and leave it to cool

 

And, make sure you have working smoke alarms – they give you vital time to escape in an emergency.

 

Stay safe, everyone!

 


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