PEOPLE are being asked to say what they think of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service's plans to save lives, improve public safety and reduce emergency incidents.

The service is running a public consultation on its draft Integrated Risk Management Plan, which identifies the main risks it needs to consider when planning for the future.

Strategy and business change manager Pete Bond said the service has to cope with an increasingly ageing population; common health and wellbeing risks; availability of on call appliances; the historical distribution of service delivery resources; rising demand for emergency medical response; and an increase in serious fires affecting commercial premises.

He said: "If you were to ask people to describe the work of firefighters, most people would probably talk about us fighting fires and possibly dealing with road traffic collisions.

"In fact, the service completed more community safety activities than the number of incidents attended last year and just 26 per cent of incidents attended by the service are fires.

"Our risk analysis indicates that we will have to develop new ways of working to ensure that we continue to provide a first class emergency service.

"Some of the things we will have to consider include how we make best use of our resources and an increase in the amount of preventative work we carry out."

You can view the plan and give your feedback by Sunday, December 31, by clicking here.