Community case studies

D was keeping and collecting items for several reasons. Originally he was collecting items to sell for money to send to Uganda (where his wife was from). As the items mounted up, D couldn’t throw these away as he didn’t like to see waste.

Read the full case study

Hoarding is a complex mental health condition and each person’s individual circumstances have to be taken into account when deciding on the best approach. In some cases, the referred person who’s displaying the hoarding behaviour may refuse support. The Fire Service’s role then becomes advisory as part of a multi-agency approach.

H is currently displaying high levels of hoarding within her property and has been referred to HIWFRS by both housing and adult social care but she has declined a home fire safety visit to help address the hoarding behaviour. H is at risk of losing her tenancy due to the hoarding concerns, so HIWFRS is working closely with partner agencies through multi-agency risk management meetings to try and support her and ensure her fire risks are still managed and where possible reduced.

Read the full case study.

When responding to a fire in the back garden of a member of the community, a HIWFRS Crew Manager identified a high level of hoarding within the property. Concerned over B’s welfare and the high fire risks associated with hoarding, the Crew Manager raised a safeguarding referral.  This led to follow-up joint visits by the local CSO and Adult Services team.

During visits B explained that his property had contained a high volume of books, newspapers and videos for many years. In the last two years this had become overwhelming for him, and he had even become isolated from his family and friends.

Read the full case study

A home fire safety visit (Safe and Well) was recently carried out for MJ, a lady with a level 7/8 hoarding concern around her property. She had been referred for a Safe and Well visit by the local Adult Services team.

At the time of the visit the Community Safety Assistant (CSA) found the property packed with items including empty food packets scattered around, as well as dog faeces. MJ was also displaying other behaviours associated with poor mental health.

Read the full case study

We ensure that appropriate procedures are in place to safeguard and promote the safety of all vulnerable children, young people and adults at risk. We adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to all forms of abuse or neglect.

J is an individual who was presenting risks for self neglect including the neglect of his home environment. There were multiple burn marks in carpets, furniture, bedding and J’s clothing from discarded cigarettes.

Due to J’s alcohol consumption and poor mobility there were concerns for his ability to react to a potential fire situation and to evacuate in the event of a fire.

Read the full case study

HIWFRS were called to a domestic property fire caused by unattended cooking in the early hours of the morning, following a neighbour’s emergency call. Upon arrival, the smoke alarms were sounding, dense smoke could be seen through the windows and there was no response from inside the property.

Forced entry was gained by crews and two small children, one baby and an adult female (who was awake but unresponsive to the fire) were located inside. All were evacuated.

This incident resulted in crews having concerns for the adult female’s ability to care for and protect the children due to potential poor mental health or being under the influence of substances and/or alcohol.

Read the full case study