A NEW response service for dealing with fires is due to be rolled out to Stroud.

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service is gearing up to start its Telecare scheme following a successful launch last year.

Since the success of the initial pilot in the Cotswolds, the service has expanded to cover Stroud from May.

Telecare and GFRS formed a partnership in June last year to help vulnerable adults remain safe and independent at home.

Stewart Edgar, chief fire officer and operations director, said, “This partnership is helping to support some of the most vulnerable members of our communities to live at home independently with the assurance of a prompt response from our local firefighters.”

Most of the equipment provided by Telecare requires the individual to have two ‘responders’ within a thirty minute travel radius who can respond, if required, when any of the equipment activates.

For anyone who does not have two people to be a contact, GFRS will respond to equipment activations.

The Telecare team train retained fire officers so they know what to do when they respond to different types of callouts.

Since the launch GFRS have attended 188 call outs, across the 16 stations that have been trained.

The Telecare equipment is placed around the home and will place a call to the monitoring centre when it is activated.

The monitoring centre will contact the retained fire officers to attend the user's home if they need assistance.

Cllr Nigel Moor, cabinet member for fire, planning and infrastructure, said: “By GFRS providing this support, it helps vulnerable people live independently in their own homes, where they want to be.

“I think that the work between GFRS and the Telecare team is a fantastic partnership and I am so pleased that the project is extending to reach the whole county, people who need the support use it.”