FIREFIGHTING capabilities in Dorset have received a boost with the donation of a new community safety van.

The four-seater van will be used to allow fire officers to travel around the county, even to the remotest parts, to give fire safety advice.

The new Vauxhall combo van will be used by the Community Safety Task Teams.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service works in partnership with Magna Housing to give residents safety advice and home safety checks through schemes with housing managers.

Following on from this project money for the van was donated by Magna’s community initiative fund to help the fire service continue its vital education work.

The fund is managed by the resident’s forum and one of their key aims is to support the work of the emergency services out in the community.

In the last 10 years, the fund has donated more than £1million to projects that benefit Magna residents.

Dorset Fire and Rescue Service chief fire officer Darran Gunter said that the van would be used to educate people about the dangers of fires to prevent them occurring.

He said: “I am thrilled to have received this brand new community safety vehicle on behalf of Dorset Fire and Rescue Service.

“Our aim is to work in partnership to make Dorset safer and this is a perfect example of that work.

“Magna Housing is a valued partner that we have been working with for some time to enhance the safety of residents living in their properties.

“This new vehicle means we reach more of those residents and others in Dorset, to provide a free home safety check before they might be unlucky enough to experience a fire.”

Ken Bodycombe, Magna’s community development manager, said that the housing association was delighted to be supporting the community safety work of the fire service.

He said: “The community initiative fund is managed by a residents’ forum, which was very keen to donate the money to enable the fire service to work out in the community to spread the word of fire prevention to our residents. “Hopefully, this will be as successful as the donations to provide the police with vans to work out in the rural areas which we funded over three years ago.”