Annual Awards 2022-Public Choice Vote is now open!

For the second year running, we’re looking forward to holding our Joint NYFRS and NYP annual awards ceremony. We will be celebrating the brilliant contributions from our firefighters, staff, and volunteers, who’ve brought to life our values of inclusion, results and learning in very practical ways, often going above and beyond in what they do.

From today we are inviting the public and colleagues to vote for their Public Choice Award.

A panel chaired by Zoe Metcalfe, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, shortlisted three entries and now we want the public to vote for the Public Choice Award winner.

The three shortlisted entries have demonstrated significant commitment in their roles this past year and gone above and beyond to provide an exceptional service.

Zoe Metcalfe, North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, said:

“The Public Choice Awards remind us to recognise and highlight the extraordinary work that our brave Officers, Firefighters, volunteers and other Police and Fire staff provide to go above and beyond for our communities, helping people to be safe and feel safe wherever they are and whatever they are doing.

“One of the priorities within both my Police & Crime and Fire & Rescue plans is to enhance positive culture, openness, integrity and public trust in Police and Fire services, with a personal pledge to work tirelessly to restore and renew that trust if confidence has been shaken.

“These awards present the opportunity to reinforce confidence by showcasing some of the amazing work being done across our County, and I want to personally say thank you to North Yorkshire Police and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for continuing to work hard to protect us during challenging times.”

Read about the incredible nominees and please vote using the link which sits just below Ewan’s story.

Bronya Meadley – Control Room

In May 2022, Bronya Meadley was working in the North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue control room when a call came in for an incident at a home near Skipton.

The caller was a woman in immense distress as she was trapped in her bathroom due to a fire in her home.

Bronya quickly took the details she needed to mobilise the fire appliances to head to the location and to support the fire crews in their emergency response and then continued to give lifesaving advice to the woman.

Bronya stayed on the phone for around 30 minutes, providing advice, support and reassurance to the woman while the fire service responders made their way to the scene.

During this time, the woman was coughing and choking as smoke entered the bathroom. Bronya continued to talk to her, keeping her calm and updating her on the progress of the responders.

As the smoke levels increased, the call became more and more challenging and Bronya was greatly concerned for the woman’s safety. Once responders arrived on scene, they entered the house and were able to safely rescue the woman using a smoke hood.

Thanks to Bronya’s calm and reassuring support and the courage of the fire crew, the woman thankfully made a full recovery from the incident.

Bronya remained professional, reassuring and measured throughout this incredibly difficult situation. The advice and reassurance she gave to the woman undoubtedly helped save her life.

Simon Cossins, T/Watch Manager, Scarborough.

In July 2021 Simon showed incredible courage and bravery in rescuing a couple who had been severely injured by cows whilst out walking in the North Yorkshire countryside.

Two adults in their mid-50s were walking in the North Yorkshire Moors. They were walking through a field of cows in a remote location far from the beaten track where Simon Cossins who was out walking his dog witnessed them being surrounded by cows.

Simon shouted at them to get out of the field and tried to warn them the cows were about to attack. Simon then witnessed the male being tossed approximately 10ft in the air twice, and then trampled. The woman was pinned to a fence and trampled. Their two dogs were also involved; one remaining at the male’s side and seemed to be uninjured, the other dog was trampled but managed to run away.

Simon entered the field, putting himself and his own dog at huge risk and dragged the male away from danger and over a wall, he then returned for the female and again dragged her over a wall. The cows were only deterred by Simon’s dog who distracted them.

Simon then ran a good distance to get a phone signal and liaise with control to give the location and the resources required. He then returned to provide reassurance to the casualties. The casualties would likely not have been found for a considerable time given the location. Simon looked after the two casualties for 40 minutes before the ambulance paramedics and kit were transported to them by Kirkbymoorside fire crew.

Had it not been for Simon’s incredibly brave actions this could have been even more serious. Both casualties spent some time in intensive care with significant injuries following the incident.

Ewan Hewett, T/Crew Manager, Tadcaster.

Ewan has worked extremely hard to help vulnerable individuals and groups within the North Yorkshire community.

Afghan Refugees

Whilst carrying out a visit to a local hotel; it became apparent that the hotel’s use had changed. It had become a re housing centre for Afghan refugees – essentially becoming their home.

Ewan recognised an opportunity to deliver fire safety messages to the refugees. Breaking down cultural and language barriers, Ewan used translators from the hotel and other resources to create a fire safety presentation in English, Pashto, and Persian.

Sensitive to the possibility that the refugees could be wary of people in uniform. Ewan presented a ‘show and tell’ session to dispel any worries or concerns and enhance their understanding that North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service are here to help.

Using social media, Ewan organised a winter clothing drive, as many of the refugees arrived with no adequate winter clothing. There were so many donations, the hotel could provide warm clothing to over one hundred residents.

Mental Health

Ewan is extremely passionate about mental wellbeing. Through extensive training, Ewan can recognise early signs and symptoms if anyone is struggling with their mental health and offer advice and guidance, whether this is for him, his colleagues in the workplace, or out in the community. He facilitates mental health awareness days, has spoken about the subject in radio interviews and arranged training for crews in mental health awareness. His ethos is, he, his crew and the community are like a fully functioning engine, if any one of them is not working as they should through mental ill health, they are no longer efficient, and it is paramount the issues are addressed.

Trend Analysis

Ewan devised and created a database to identify and target operational issues and trends to work alongside the Community Fire Safety calendar. Ewan identified a significant increase in HGV fires and created a safety advice document and sent it to relevant local businesses. This assisted in reducing this operational trend nationwide. Using the same system, Ewan identified that a major cause of residential fires was due to unsafe cooking practices, so crews were able to direct safety advice to the right places.

To vote, simply click this link Annual Awards Public Choice Vote

The winners of the Public Choice Awards will be announced by the PFCC at the Annual Awards event. The event will also include awards for staff from our joint Fire and Police staff function enableNY, Lifetime Achievement Award.

This year our Awards Presentation Evening and Gala Dinner will take place on Friday 25^th November 2022 at Sandburn Hall.