New fire station in Vällarna is on schedule
A fire station in Völlunum, Hafnarfjörður, has been included in the fire protection plan of the Capital Region Fire and Rescue Service (SHS). It is planned to be operational within the next ten years. The plan was signed in Skógarhlíð before the weekend.
Fire station to rise on Völlunum
A fire station in Völlunum, Hafnarfjörður, has been included in the fire protection plan of the Capital Region Fire and Rescue Service (SHS). It is planned to be operational within the next ten years. The plan was signed in Skógarhlíð before the weekend.
„We are taking the next step in improving response and service by adding a fire station in Völlunum to the SHS fire protection plan. This is a targeted investment in the safety of Hafnarfjörður's residents,“ says Valdimar Víðisson, the mayor. He signed the plan for the City of Hafnarfjörður and hopes the station will be built as soon as possible.
The plan that has now been signed replaces an older plan which was in force until 31 October this year; the new one is valid for five years. It has been approved by the Housing and Building Authority (HMS) and the local authorities within the fire service's area of operation.
The aim is a fully-equipped fire brigade.
The aim of the fire protection plan, in accordance with the Fire Protection Act, is to ensure that the fire brigade is staffed, organised, equipped, educated and trained to handle the tasks assigned to it. The plan is based on a risk assessment of the operational area, which determines the size and organisation of the fire service and provides the basis for prioritising actions and funding, thereby increasing the safety of the area's residents.
Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir, Mayor and Chair of the SHS Board, says the capital region has grown rapidly in recent years and, according to forecasts, that growth will continue. „Significant population growth, urban development and construction in the area have affected the operations of SHS. This includes, among other things, increased pressure and longer response times.“ A key part of improving response times is the construction of a new fire station in Tónahvarfi, Kópavogur, which will be operational within five years, and the station in Völlunum, Hafnarfjörður, within the next 10 years.
Hermann Jónasson, CEO of HMS, says that a fire protection plan is an important management tool for all fire services in their statutory fire protection duties. „The duties of the Capital Region Fire and Rescue Service are varied, as it is the largest fire service in the country and its area of operation is both densely populated and vast. This plan provides a detailed overview of how the force's infrastructure needs to be developed over the coming years to enable it to tackle the challenges it faces,“ he says.
Exciting times ahead
Jón Viðar Matthíasson, Chief Fire Officer of SHS, says he welcomes the outcome of the new fire protection plan and says that exciting times lie ahead for SHS in the development of the fire service.
„The new plan enables us to continue to carry out our statutory duties well, along with other tasks entrusted to us,“ says Jón Viðar.
