A NEW fire detection initiative is now being used by Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service in Painswick and Nailsworth.

Following a successful pilot of the scheme in the county earlier this year where Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) responded to Telecare alerts in the Cotwsold, they will now roll out the service to parts of Gloucestershire.

Telecare is an initiative that uses special sensors placed around the home to detect potential emergencies such as falls, fire, flooding, carbon monoxide and gas leaks.

The initiative will now also take on alerts in the Cinderford, Lydney, Coleford, Newent, Winchcombe, Tewkesbury, Dursley, Wooton and Tetbury areas.

The new response service operates 24/7 365 days a year and can be accessed by anyone living in the pilot areas who has linked Gloucestershire Telecare equipment and does not have local family or friends that can respond.

Telecare officers will be training retained fire officers on how to react to the situations they may be faced with when responding.

Councillor Dorcas Binns, cabinet member for older people, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for partners to work together for the benefit of our older community and their families.

“People can feel isolated living in rural areas, especially if they don’t have any family close by. Having our retained fire fighters on hand to provide this frontline support is a fantastic initiative.”

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, cabinet member for fire and safety, added: “Working together, our fire service and Telecare can ensure elderly people feel safe in their homes.

“By extending Telecare’s coverage to more people in the county, we can help to keep them safe and well during the winter months. This also helps tie in with our own fire prevention work in the community.”

The extended pilot areas will be fully operational by the beginning of December 2015.